THE COMMISSION on Elections XI said political candidates continue to post campaign materials on undesignated areas ahead of the May 12 local and national mid-term elections.
Comelec acting regional director Atty. Gay Enumerables said posting illegal materials remains the top violation by candidates.
“Bisan unsaon jud namo og pangugat ana, actually we have done a lot of baklas operations already pero mamalik jud sila,” Enumerables said in an interview with Madayaw Davao on April 15.
She reminded political parties to remind their supporters to follow the protocols in posting campaign materials to avoid facing a disqualification case.
“Dapat ila gyud i-monitor ang posting sa campaign materials sa ilang gipang-sugo. Instead of advertising or promoting the candidates, baka ma file-an ng disqualification because of the violation,” she stressed.
Even on legal poster areas, she said materials are not well organized and do not follow sizing standards. The standard size of a poster is only 2×3 and portrait orientation.
Billboards, on the other hand, are allowed provided they are erected on a private property.
For national position candidates, every billboard must not exceed two months from the time it is put up, and the distance from each other should not be less than one kilometer.
Meanwhile, for local candidates, it should not exceed one month and has to be 500 meters apart from each other.
“If it is posted more than the allowable time, it has to be removed,” she added.
Enumerables said private property owners are entitled to remove posters of candidates who posted their materials without consent from owners.
Enumerables said the Comelec will continue monitoring on the ground to ensure continued compliance. Candidates who fail to remove within 72 hours of being notified will receive a show cause order.
