Saturday, February 24, 2007
Those that exceed size limit or are outside poster area
IMPLEMENTING a Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution, local poll officials and Department of Interior and Local Government representatives tore down yesterday hundreds of campaign materials of senatorial candidates that violated Comelec regulations.
First to go were the campaign materials of senatorial candidates Eduardo Angara, Manuel Villar, Mike Defensor and Miguel Zubiri, which were posted on trees and posts in the city’s thoroughfares.
Aside from exceeding the size prescribed by Comelec, the materials were also posted outside the designated common poster areas, City Election Officer for the North District Marchel Sarno said.
Sarno and DILG Cebu City Director Patricio Gabuya led barangay officials in tearing down illegal campaign materials yesterday afternoon.
Much as they want to cite the candidates for violations of the Fair Elections Act, Sarno said they have no evidence to pin the candidates as the ones responsible for the posting of the materials.
“We are not sure if they are the ones who posted the materials because we don’t have proof. It’s pointless to file a complaint against the candidates if we can’t substantiate it with evidence,” he said yesterday.
Anyone caught violating the Fair Elections Act faces imprisonment of one to six years and perpetual disqualification from holding any public office.
Under the law, campaign materials may be posted only in designated common poster areas in barangay halls.
The posting of campaign materials along the streets, on bridges, public structures or buildings, trees, electric posts or wires, schools, shrines and main thoroughfares is prohibited.
Yesterday’s operation complied with Comelec resolution 7823, which deputizes barangay officials and tanods, through the DILG, to tear down campaign materials posted in public places outside common poster areas.
The barangay officials are also deputized to arrest persons caught in the act of posting or distributing unlawful election paraphernalia.
Revamp
Meanwhile, Election Officer for the south district Lionel Castillano disputed accusations that local poll officers manipulate the results of the elections.
He reacted to the statements of former Mayor Alvin Garcia who said in a radio interview that Comelec officials initiate alterations of poll results.
Castillano assured Garcia there will be a revamp of election officers after the deadline of the filing of certificates of candidacy, as mandated by the Comelec central office.
“I respect his opinion but if you don’t win in a contest, you don’t change the referee... But still, we will address his concern. There will be a reshuffle of election officers. And we also hope the former mayor will also give us the benefit of the doubt, bisa’g gamay lang,” he said.
Castillano was guest speaker at the Bee Forum at the Casino Español yesterday, which was sponsored by Cebu City Councilors Rodrigo Abellanosa and Gabriel Leyson.
To help in the Comelec’s voters’ education campaign and as part of public service, Abellanosa offered one hour of airtime for free to be devoted to discussions on election matters.
Abellanosa, owner of Bee TV Channel 14, said he does not see anything wrong with his offer of free airtime for Comelec’s program.
“It’s just a public service program. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, we’re just trying to help Comelec,” he said.
Castillano also said the councilors’ sponsorship of the forum does not violate any Comelec rules because officially, the two councilors are not considered candidates yet since they have not filed their certificates of candidacy. (LCR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 24, 2007 issue)
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