CEBU, Philippines - Some residents of Barangay Tejero, Cebu City are now preparing to file charges against Mayor Michael Rama and his subordinates for removing several posters of candidates allied with the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK) that were installed inside their private premises.
This was announced by Tejero Barangay Councilman Garry Lao during the BOPK-paid radio program over DYLA, although he failed to identify those who are contemplating to file charges against the mayor.
Tejero barangay officials under Barangay Captain Jessielou Cadungog declared their entire barangay as “Home of BOPK,” the political organization headed by Cebu City South district Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña who had decided to challenge the reelection bid of Rama.
Philipp Zafra, chief of staff of the Office of the Mayor, earlier announced that the City Hall personnel were able to remove several propaganda materials of BOPK candidates from barangays Tejero, San Roque (Ciudad) and Tinago.
Zafra, however, said that aside from the propaganda materials of the BOPK-allied candidates, they also removed the political propaganda materials of candidates under Team Rama, to show to the public that they are not singling out BOPK.
According to Zafra, they were just following the instructions of the mayor to remove the posters, banners and other advertisement that do not have permit from City Hall.
The law provides that those who wish to hang advertisement in public places need to secure a permit first from the Office of the Building Officials (OBO).
Zafra admitted that among the political advertisements that they removed were installed on the fences of houses, but they did this only after the concerned house owners authorized them to take it.
“Misugot ra man ‘sab sila nga kuhaon ang maong mga posters nga nakadala og hugaw kay wala man kuno sila kahibawo nga gibutang to didto,” Zafra earlier said. (They agreed for us to take the posters, saying they were not even aware when these were placed there.)
But Lao said several residents of Tejero are willing to execute affidavits that the posters were taken from their premises without their permission. –JPM (FREEMAN)