More Senate bets, party-list groups warned vs illegal posters

MANILA -- Twelve senatorial aspirants and 10 party-list groups have been reprimanded by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for unlawful placing of campaign materials.

Notified by the Comelec law department were seven members of Team PNoy, three from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), and two other senatorial bets, along with the 10 party-list groups.

Of the 10 party-list groups, Piston Lang Transportation Coalition, Inc. (Piston), and Kabataan party-lists are already set to be charged with election offense cases for failing to remove them after the three-day grace period.

Those who also received notices from the Comelec were Buhay Hayaang Yumabong (Buhay); LPG Marketers Association; Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta; 1 Joint Alliannce of Marginalized Group; Sanlakas; Anak Mindanao; Anakpawis; and Magdalo.

On the other hand, senatorial candidates who received notices were Risa Hontiveros; Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño; Aurora Representative Sonny Angara; Senator Antonio Trillanes IV; Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn; Cagayan Representative Juan Ponce Enrile Jr; former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri; Nancy Binay; Senator Aquilino Pimentel III; Senator Francis Escudero; former Senator Jamby Madrigal; and Bam Aquino.

Under Comelec Resolution 9615, parties and candidates may post any lawful campaign material only in authorized common poster areas in public places and in private places provided it has the consent of the owner.

Violation of the said resolution entails an election offense, which carries a penalty of one to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and prohibition to occupy public office.

As for the cases of Piston and Kabataan, Comelec law department head Esmeralda Ladra said their inspection over the weekend showed the two groups failed to remove their posters at the walls of the Philippine General Hospital in Manila.

“We will be filing election offense cases here at the Law Department for an investigation to be made before we make a recommendation to the commission en banc,” she said.

Aside from this, Ladra said the groups also stand to lose their accreditation as party-list groups.

In a statement, Kabataan said they have complied with the Comelec notices within the three-day grace period.

“If there are remaining alleged posters, compliance will be made as soon as Comelec provides information on its location,” said Kabataan president Terry Ridon.

Ridon said they have yet to receive a copy of the case “but we assure Comelec that we have abided by the rules.”

Section 6 of Republic Act 7941 provides that the Comelec may cancel the registration of a party-list group if “it violates or fails to comply with laws, rules or regulations relating to elections.” (HDT/Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)