(Left-Right) DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, COMELEC Chairman Andres Bautista and MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos for “Operation Baklas”.
MANILA, Philippines — When the campaign period kicks off on February 9, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will also begin removing campaign paraphernalia placed outside the common poster areas under the so-called “Operation Baklas”.
The MMDA, DPWH and COMELEC on Tuesday, forged an agreement for the implementation of the operation.
Commission on Elections has warned candidates and political parties to remove illegally-posted campaign materials before the campaign period starts, because if they wait for DPWH and MMDA to take it down, filing of charges may follow.
COMELEC Chairman Bautista notes public properties are being defaced by ubiquitous campaign posters.
“Yung ginagamit yung public property… yung mga poste ng ilaw, or yung mga lakaran, pedestrian walkways, overpass, di ba nakikita natin malalaking poster yan? Dapat huwag nilang gagamitin yan, bawal yan.”
(The use of public properties…lamposts,pedestrian walkways, overpass, we can see large posters right? They should not use it [public properties] it’s prohibited. )
DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said, “Bago naming baklasin kukunan namin ng litrato so that will be part of our documentation and we will send to COMELEC.”
(Before we remove [poster], we will take pictures as part of our documentation and we will send it to COMELEC.)
A person guilty of an election offense will be imprisoned from one to six years.
COMELEC added that a candidate might also be held liable for the offense if found that he or she consented to the commission of an illegal act.
However, the public works department is pushing adjustment of common poster areas.
“Palawakin yung mga common poster areas kasi understandably kung minsan masyadong maliit at saka yung napipiling site ay ayaw nung mga kandidato kaya kung saan saan din sila naglalagay,” said by the head of DPWH.
(Let’s widen common poster areas because understandably it’s not spacious enough and candidates are not in favor of the chosen site so they place their posters elsewhere.)
Meanwhile, COMELEC is urging the public to participate in the shame campaign by taking pictures of campaign materials that are placed in prohibited areas and forward it to COMELEC with the details thru the poll body’s social media accounts.
“Kung maging viral itong mga photo ito [sa social media], baka makaapekto ito sa kanilang mga kampanya dahil makikitang hindi nila sinusunod yung batas,” the poll department chief said.
(If a photo turns viral [in social media], it might impact their candidacy and voters might not vote for them for being a violator of election rules.”
COMELEC is also pushing for the use of environment-friendly or recyclable campaign materials and reminds candidates against the irresponsible disposal of it.
Also the poll body said once the campaign period starts, candidates are forbidden from endorsing any products. (VICTOR COSARE / UNTV News)
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