ONE Cebu wants the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct a formal investigation on the several "election propaganda" at the South Road Properties (SRP).
In a letter addressed to the Comelec Central Office and coursed through Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano, One Cebu sait it wants the signage removed.
"Apparently, the subject signage/billboards were erected and/or installed upon orders or directives by the city mayor (Tomas Osmeña) and other officials of the City Government or, at the very least, erected and/or installed with their consent and/or approval," read the letter to the Comelec, signed by Atty. Rory Jon Sepulveda, One Cebu spokesman and legal counsel.
The party, through party president Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, also reserved the right to file, in due time, the appropriate charges against City officials for an election offense. The party still has three years to do so.
Sepulveda explained the signage erected at the SRP are obviously propaganda materials against Garcia and her candidacy.
One sign read: This way to S.U.P. (South Underwater Properties)-apparently a dig at the Balili lot controversy wherein Capitol purchased properties that were partly underwater in the City of Naga.
Another read: "A proud blunder of Gov. Gwen Garcia 'I'm sorry,'" and another read, "Your provincial taxes at work!"
One Cebu's letter noted at least two bases in asking for an investigation.
rIt said Section 85b of the Omnibus Election Code reads, "It shall be unlawful...to erect, put up, make use of, attach, float or display any billboard, tinplate-poster, balloons and the like, or whatever size, shape, form or kind, advertising for or against any candidate or political party."
Also, Sepulveda said the materials were erected at a government facility-the SRP and on lampposts.
Section 261 O-3 says it is illegal for "any person who uses under any guise whatsoever, directly or indirectly...any equipment, vehicle, facility, apparatus or paraphernalia
owned by the government or by its political subdivisions, agencies including government-owned or controlled corporations, or by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for any election campaign or for any partisan political activity."
The complaint before the Comelec was decided by the One Cebu executive committee last Monday, Sepulveda said. The letter was submitted yesterday morning.
With only six days to go before the elections, Sepulveda is optimistic the issue will be resolved.
One Cebu will not take down the signage because it will be tantamount to taking the law into its own hands.
The party is also not interested in putting up retaliatory signage because it is its mantra to conduct the campaign in a "high level and decent manner."