Bets’ faces up a month before local campaign

CEBU, Philippines - It’s still a month to go before the schedule of campaign for local candidates but campaign materials from bets here can already be seen around the city.

Billboards with faces of Team Rama candidates was put up at the Fuente Osmeña circle and near the Archbishop Reyes Avenue flyover, among others, while posters of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan  candidates could be seen in Barangays Guadalupe and Labangon.

Mayor Michael Rama said he already called the attention of city’s Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, Enhancement  Team to remove illegal billboards and campaign materials.

“Team Rama is under the rule of law. All should abide by (rules and regulations),” he said.

He said these campaign materials posted in different walls in the city streets have violated City Ordinance 1361 or “An establishing a system of garbage collection, imposing fees therefor, and appropriating funds and for other related purposes.”

“Ang pinaka-importante now that there is such a thing as regulation. Then, we will have to bring it to all. Ni-adto wa may regulation. Maong way makaingon nga di na mao. Pero now that there is a regulation, then let all be made to enforce it,” he said.

Not candidates yet

Cebu City District Election Officer Atty. Marchel Sarno said his office cannot regulate the proliferation of these campaign materials yet.

“Dili pa na sila regulated sa election laws kay in the eyes of the law, they are not candidates yet,” he said.

Sarno said the Comelec will start regulating the illegal campaign materials against local officials on March 25, which is 45 days prior to the May 9 elections.

“They are considered candidates at the start of the campaign period sa local,” Sarno said.

Comelec Resolution 10049 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Fair Elections Act states that all campaign materials should be removed 72 hours before the start of the campaign period.

Under the resolution, it is illegal to “post, display, or exhibit any election campaign or propaganda material outside of authorized common poster areas, in public places, or in private properties without the consent of the owner.”

Public places include electronic announcement boards, such as LED display boards located along highways and streets, and LCD TV displays posted on walls of public buildings; motor vehicles used as patrol cars, ambulances, and for other similar purposes that are owned by local government units, government-owned and -controlled corporations; waiting sheds, sidewalks, street and lamp posts, electric posts and wires, traffic signs and other signboards erected on public property, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers, and underpasses, bridges, main thoroughfares, center islands of roads and highways; schools, shrines, barangay halls, health centers, public structures and buildings or any edifice; public transport vehicles owned and controlled by the government, such as the Metro Rail Transit, Light Rail Transit and Philippine National Railways trains; and within the premises of public transport terminals, such as bus terminals, airports, seaports, docks, piers, train stations, that are owned and controlled by the government. – (FREEMAN)