Poll bets told: Follow common poster areas

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Davao City reminded national and local candidates for the May 13 elections to observe common poster areas designated by the poll body.

As the campaign period for national candidates started, lawyer Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio, Davao City Election officer for the first district, said posting of election propaganda in bridges, shrines, trees, school (even outside the fence especially in front), public building and structures, electric posts and wires, and outside designated common poster areas is prohibited.

Comelec Resolution 9615, promulgated last January 15, provides that parties and candidates may post any lawful campaign material in authorized common poster areas in public places, subject to the requirements and/or limitations set by the Comelec.

"Candidates may construct at the designated poster areas temporary structure where they can post their election propaganda at their expense," Ampoloquio said, noting what was stated in the list of the common poster areas.

"Walls [of] private establishment within common poster areas may be posted only with the approval of the owner/owners of the establishment," the list added.

In an interview, Ampoloquio said they will start monitoring election paraphernalia after they completed hiring precinct count optical scanner (PCOS) technicians.

"Wala pa mi naka-organize. We are concentrating on the outsourcing on the PCOS technicians. Anyway, maplastar ra nato ning manpower requirements, we will come to the violations na pwede na nato maadress na concerns," she said.

Besides, Ampoloquio said, there are still few posters and streamers hanged and glued in some areas for now.

"We will wait until daghan-daghan na nakabutang and we will notify the candidates para sila mismo mutanggal," she said.

Should the candidates refused to follow, then it is about time for the task force to take down the posters.

Ampoloquio said the public is also urged to report violators before the Comelec by identifying the names and exact locations where the violation took place.

She said that during the previous elections, they were able to monitor several violations, which were submitted before the Comelec-Law Department.

However, she said violators were just given notices to remove the posters, but no one was penalized or sanctioned. (Arianne Caryl N. Casas)