ELECTION officials tore posters in prohibited areas during simultaneous operations yesterday.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials said the operations in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay were meant to discipline candidates into following laws on the posting of campaign materials.
The Fair Elections Act specifies areas where campaign materials can be posted. The law states that electric posts and walls are not proper posting areas.
Cebu City North District Election Officer Marchel Sarno led his staff in a joint operation with the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7. PRO 7 Director Lani-O Nerez sent a group of police recruits equipped with sticks and sacks to help in tearing down illegal campaign materials.
Chief Insp. Claudio Casiban, of the Cebu City Police Office operations section, said personnel from the Fuente Osmena Police Station and the Waterfront Police Station were also detailed to help the Comelec team.
The police were also tasked to secure them from a possible attack by angry supporters.
At the end of their operation, most of the campaign posters on Osmeña Blvd. and Gorordo Ave. were stripped.
Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Castillano said that with the operation yesterday, the public will know that they can report illegal campaign posters in their communities.
Under the Fair Elections Act, anyone caught illegally posting campaign materials face imprisonment from one to six years. They, however, will remain free throughout the election period.
Castillano said that although anyone can conduct a citizen’s arrest of violators, he is discouraging the practice. He said people might be in harm’s way if they attempt to arrest violators. He advised people to report the violators to the nearest barangay tanod.