By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) removed a total of 555 campaign posters during the third round of Oplan Baklas in Iloilo City on April 9.
The nationwide campaign targets illegally posted or oversized political materials ahead of the May 2025 elections.
COMELEC data showed that the violations included 352 posters by local candidates, 77 by senatorial aspirants, and 126 from party-list groups.
Reelectionist city councilor Romel Duron topped the list with 138 illegal or oversized posters removed.
Other local candidates with the most removed materials include Councilor Miguel Treñas (47), Councilor Johnny Young (22), and councilor candidates Efren Gimeo (20), Lyndon Acap, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia, and Bryant Zulueta (11 each).
Additional removals included:
-Councilor candidate Salvador Capulot (10)
-Councilor Alan Zaldivar and mayoralty candidate Roland Magahin (8 each)
-Councilor candidate Jan Barredo (7)
-Vice mayoral candidate Lady Julie Grace Baronda and councilor candidate Nene De La Llana (5 each)
-Councilor candidates Stanley Flores, congressional candidate Danilo Purzuelo, and mayoralty candidate Raisa Treñas (4 each)
-Councilor candidates Evony Deveza, Florencio Moleta, Shiella Olid, Peter Emil Oñate, and Gene Manuel Ramos (3 each)
-Councilor Frances Grace Parcon-Torres, and councilor candidates Abner Batan and Jose Espinosa IV (2 each)
-Posters from political slates were also removed, including two from Team Uswag and one from Team Sulong Gugma.
Among senatorial candidates, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa had the most materials removed (30), followed by Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (20), Makati Mayor Abby Binay and Atty. Luke Espiritu (6 each), former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and former Sen. Bam Aquino (4 each), Ariel Querubin (3), Sen. Bong Revilla (2), and Sen. Bong Go and Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (1 each).
LPGMA Party-list had the most takedowns among party-list groups with 72, followed by others still being verified by COMELEC.
The latest Oplan Baklas round, part of the weekly enforcement schedule, was conducted in La Paz district, covering La Paz Plaza and barangays Baldoza and Gustilo, among others.
Election Assistant II Jonathan Sayno told RMN Iloilo that repeated violations may lead to show-cause orders from the COMELEC central office.
Candidates who receive such orders will be required to explain why they should not face disqualification cases.
The directive will pass through regional and local election offices before reaching the candidates.
“Candidates will be asked to explain why COMELEC should not lodge a disqualification case,” Sayno said.
Under Republic Act No. 9006 (Fair Elections Act) and COMELEC Resolution No. 11086, promulgated on December 9, 2024, the size and placement of campaign posters are strictly regulated.
Violations may constitute election offenses under Section 13 of R.A. 9006 and may be penalized under Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, or the Omnibus Election Code.
