ILOILO – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Western Visayas stopped its Oplan Baklas campaign against illegal election campaign materials on private properties.
This was in deference to the Supreme Court’s (SC) temporary restraining order (TRO) against the poll body’s drive targeting illegal campaign materials displayed on private properties.
The other aspect of Oplan Baklas – running after illegal campaign materials on posts, streets, trees, and government buildings – will continue, said Comelec Region 6 director Atty. Wilfred Jay Balisado.
If the Oplan Baklas taskforce spots oversized campaign materials on private properties, it calls the property owner’s attention and orders the owner to remove the material.
“Hindi naman talaga natin tinanggal ‘yong mga posters sa mga private spaces. So, technically ‘yung Operation Baklas is not really that aggressive na talagang papasok tayo sa mga bahay-bahay para kunin ‘yong campaign materials, much more ang ginawa ng supporters,” said Balisado.
He added: “Wala naman tayong narining dito sa Region 6 na nagka-problema. Instruction ko sa Comelec employees pati na rin sa Philippine National Police…i-negotiate natin ‘yong private persons sa mga bahay-bahay nila na puedeng tanggalin nila or otherwise i-document natin for future reference.” explained Balisado.
Comelec has designated common poster areas in public spaces where candidates can display their campaign materials.
Section 21 of Comelec Resolution No. 10730 issued on Nov. 17, 2021 affirms Republic Act No. 9006 (Fair Election Act) and read: (Common Poster Areas) – parties and independent candidates may, upon authority of the Comelec, through the City or Municipal Election Officer concerned, construct common poster areas, at their expense, wherein they can post, display, or exhibit their election propaganda to announce their candidacy subject to the following requirements and/or limitations:
* A common poster area does not refer to a post, a tree, the wall of a building or an existing public structure that is in active use, but a structure, the location and number of which are specified below, that is temporarily set up by the candidates for the exclusive purpose of displaying their campaign posters
* In no instance shall an Election Officer designate as common poster areas, any trees, plants, shrubs located along public roads, in plazas, parks, school premises or in any other public grounds. In cases where parties and candidates still persist in displaying, posting, or exhibiting their campaign or election propaganda on trees and plants, they shall be prosecuted for violation of these Rules, without prejudice to the institution of a criminal complaint for the violation of Republic Act No. 35715./PN
