Tuesday, October 10, 2007 No banners, streamers for poll bets
UNLIKE in the local and national elections, candidates in the barangay and youth polls will have to comply with more restrictions on the use of campaign materials and in holding campaign activities.
For one, candidates will not be allowed to post or hang banners and huge streamers during the campaign period, which will run from Oct. 19 to 27.
Campaign materials may be placed only in at least 10 common poster areas the local poll offices will identify not later than Oct. 12.
Cebu City Election Officer for the North District Marchel Sarno said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has regulated the size of campaign materials in keeping with the policy to hold “an expeditious and inexpensive” campaign.
“We want to avoid huge expenses on the part of the candidates. Anyway, huge banners and streamers are not necessary because in the barangays, everybody knows the candidates,” Sarno said.
Comelec Resolution 8320 specifies only handwritten or printed letters not exceeding 8 1/2 inches in width and 14 inches in length and posters not exceeding two feet by three feet.
The resolution promulgated last Monday also states that each candidate will be allowed to post only one poster in every common poster area.
Candidates will be allowed to spend only P3 per registered voter in the barangay where he or she seeks to be elected.
Since the barangay and youth elections are non-partisan in character, political parties or organizations are prohibited from endorsing a candidate and from giving aid or support directly or indirectly to a candidate, whether in cash or in kind.
The candidates themselves are also prohibited from accepting and giving transportation, food and drinks five hours before and after a barangay assembly or meeting preceding the election and on election day.
Meanwhile, the power utilities in Cebu assured the public that there will be enough power supply during the Oct. 29 polls.
Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said the different power suppliers have asked for a copy of the list of voting precincts so they can check the capacity of the lines.
Power
They have to make sure that the power lines for the schools will not busted due to overloading on election day.
The Visayan Electric Co. will also provide liaison officers who will coordinate with the Comelec in case there will be problems with power supply.
Cebu Electric Co. will coordinate with the different election officers, while Mactan Electric Co. has given Comelec easy access in case of problems.
There is enough power supply for Cebu but the different power distributors suggested that Comelec should write to the Transco head office to request for more power reserves for Cebu.
But in case of power shortage, polling places, hospital and military installations will be given priority.
Comelec held a conference with the PNP and different utility groups in Cebu yesterday.
Phones
During the conference, Comelec also requested both Globe Telecom and PLDT to provide them telephone lines for free even only a few days before and after the elections.
The lines will be for the Comelec provincial offices in Cebu, Bohol and Oriental Negros as well as for the regional office.
Sarno also warned yesterday that they will tear down all illegal campaign materials that are now posted in public places once the owners of materials file their certificates of candidacy (COC).
As of yesterday, at least 257 candidates in the barangay elections have so far filed their COCs with the Cebu City poll offices. At least 122 candidates have filed their COCs for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Bets
Opposition leaders in Camputhaw, Cebu City have asked former mayor Alvin Garcia’s son and his wife to challenge Barangay Captain Lorenzo Basamot’s bid for another term.
Lawyer Raymond Alvin Garcia said their leaders and supporters approached him and requested that either he or his mother Ninette run for Camputhaw village chief.
They were disappointed with the current leadership of Basamot, who is facing an investigation by the anti-graft office for malversation of documents and conduct unbecoming of a public official.
Sun.Star Cebu tried to reach Basamot for comment but he was not at the barangay hall. Repeated calls to his cellular phone also went unanswered.
Raymond, Sun.Star’s HR manager, said, though, that they were not really inclined to run in the coming elections.
But his final decision will be known next week before the Oct. 18 deadline for the filing of COCs.
Last May, Raymond also decided to run for vice mayor under the opposition ticket on the last day for COC submission.
Yesterday, he told radio dyLA that the decision of the Garcia family and the extent of the Camputhaw residents’ clamor for change might cause him to change his mind.
In an interview, Ninette told Sun.Star outright that her running for Camputhaw barangay captain will not happen.
“Wa gyud na namo maestoryahi. No chance (that I will run). Dili ko interesado,” she said. (LCR/MBG/RHM)
