By Mariela Angella Oladive
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and General Services Office (GSO) in Iloilo City removed 400 kilograms of campaign posters, mostly from national candidates tied to Alyansa Para sa Pagbabago, as part of the ongoing “Operation Baklas” on Feb. 14.
GSO Head Engr. Neil Ravena said the tarpaulins were found along Diversion Road in Mandurriao, near Gaisano Capital-Iloilo City Center, the site of a rally for senatorial candidates from Alyansa Para sa Pagbabago the day before.
The materials were taken down for violating election poster regulations, as they were placed outside designated common poster areas, a practice prohibited under COMELEC guidelines in accordance with Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Elections Act.
Ravena explained that the posters were weighed at the Calajunan Sanitary Landfill weighbridge to quantify the amount removed.
“The 400 kg is substantial considering this was just one operation. As of now, the posters haven’t been disposed of yet. They were brought to the COMELEC office,” Ravena said.
The operation, which began at 5 a.m., was a joint effort between the COMELEC, GSO, and local police officers.
“We removed all the posters from the corner of UPV to Sambag Jaro. I spoke with the COMELEC, and they said more operations will be scheduled to ensure all posters outside the designated common poster areas are removed,” he added.
As for possible sanctions, Ravena said it depends on COMELEC’s recommendation.
“The problem is that we don’t have the names of those who put up the posters. Since no one was caught in the act, we have no one to hold accountable,” he explained.
The nationwide “Operation Baklas” began on Feb. 11, coinciding with the start of the 90-day campaign period for national candidates. The initiative targets unlawful election materials, including oversized posters and those placed outside common poster areas.
Local candidates will be subject to the same rules when their campaign period begins on March 28.
The campaign period ends on May 10, but campaigns will be prohibited on April 17 (Maundy Thursday), April 18 (Good Friday), May 11 (eve of the election), and May 12 (Election Day).
In Iloilo City, designated poster areas are located in public plazas across the seven districts, including:
Plaza Libertad
Plaza Villa
Plaza Jaro
Plaza La Paz
Bo. Obrero Plaza
Plaza Mandurriao
Plaza Molo
Candidates are allowed to post one campaign poster per area, with a maximum size of 2 feet by 3 feet. Posters that exceed this size, lack payor information, or are improperly placed will be considered unlawful.
