Pangasinan starts removal of illegal campaign materials

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — Authorities will start removing today illegal posters, tarpaulins and other campaign materials posted in areas not authorized by the Commission on Elections.

The inter-agency task force on Oplan Baklas will remove campaign materials illegally posted along the roads, bridges, highways and even trees, according to Senior Superintendent Wilson Joseph Lopez, Pangasinan police director.

The task force will work with other government agencies in clearing the province with illegal campaign posters, especially those belonging to candidates seeking national positions.

Lopez said police officers would secure the members of the task group who will handle the removal of the posters.

“As much as possible, it will not be the police who will remove the tarpaulins. It will be the workers of the Department of Public Works and Highways who will do it,” Lopez said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources vowed to go after individuals caught posting illegal campaign materials on trees.

Provincial environment officer Raymundo Gayo said they would check trees in forests and in the lowlands to ensure that no illegal campaign materials are posted on them.

Gayo said posting of these materials could harm the trees.