Campaign starts, so does ban on oversized posters

CEBU, Philippines - After the last Friday’s official start of the 45-day campaign period for the local candidates, the Commission on Elections is warning local bets that oversized campaign posters will no longer be allowed.

Cebu City Election Officer Marchel Sarno explained that while the installation of huge political campaign posters and billboards were not considered illegal even after the candidates filed their certificates of candidacy, now that the campaign period had already started these oversized campaign materials will no longer be allowed.

Cebu City South District congressional candidate Aristotle Batuhan yesterday personally supervised his volunteers in removing his oversized campaign materials yesterday.

Batuhan and his volunteers started the activity around 8 a.m. in Barangay Duljo-Fatima before going to other barangays in the city’s south district.

A few days ago Batuhan removed his huge billboards along N. Bacalso Avenue and at Fuente Osmeña.

Comelec officials earlier warned candidates to abide by their rules.  Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said that before the start of the campaign period the candidates were not prevented from placing their posters and streamers anywhere, but now the Comelec will monitor compliance with the rules.

“I honestly think that the whole district now knows who the candidates are. No need to make the place uglier and dirtier with more campaign materials. It’s now time to elevate the campaign to a discussion of issues and programs. We owe it to the people of Cebu City,” Batuhan said, “as an aspiring lawmaker, I intend to follow election laws and regulations as prescribed by Comelec. I removed today the oversized posters and tarpaulins that my supporters have placed all over the district. I will also make sure that my campaigners will only place my materials in duly designated poster areas.”

“I don’t expect the other camp to follow the rules, he doesn’t even seem to understand the law so I am not surprised that instead of removing their oversized tarps, they are even adding more of those and have started to indiscriminately hang them in trees and electric posts,” Batuhan added, referring to his opponent Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.

“We did it first,” was Abellanosa’s only reply.

But Batuhan insists his opponent still has several huge billboards, one of them placed along Carlock St.

According to Comelec rules it is unlawful for anybody to place campaign propaganda materials on trees, electric posts, bridges, or in any other places outside the designated common poster areas.

Usually, the common poster areas include public plazas, markets, barangay halls and other wide and open spaces identified by the election officers.  Posters are also prohibited in schools and in churches.

The allowed posters and streamers should be not more than two feet by three feet while pamphlets, leaflets, cards and stickers should not exceed eight and a half inches by 14 inches.  Mayor Michael Rama said he will not initiate the removal of campaign posters that are place in prohibited areas.

“Kon ato ni nga buhaton magbalik-balik ra ta kay inigkataud-taud, naa na gibutangan na pud,” he said.  — /BRP (FREEMAN)