Sunday, October 21, 2007 Aspirants violate rules on campaign materials
LIKE in previous polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) guidelines are ignored as barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates try to catch their constituents’ eye through their posters.
After the campaign period started last Friday, posters were plastered just anywhere, in violation of Comelec Resolution 8320 and the Fair Elections Act.
In the May 2007 elections, the Comelec worked with various civic groups and deputized the police to remove illegally placed posters.
For the Oct. 29 elections, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will wait for the Comelec to issue directives before tearing down illegal campaign materials.
They want to be “doubly sure” they won’t be branded as partisan, said CCPO Director Patrocinio Comendador.
Those caught in the act of posting campaign materials in non-designated areas, however, will be arrested.
PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. has ordered his commanders to see to it that Comelec rules on common poster areas are strictly followed.
He warned volunteers of candidates that the PNP will arrest and charge them with violating election laws if they are caught posting campaign materials in prohibited areas.
Promulgated last Oct. 8, Comelec Resolution 8320 set the rules and regulations governing the election campaign and propaganda for the Oct. 29 synchronized elections. Under the Fair Elections Act, campaign materials may be posted only in designated common poster areas.
But despite Comelec notices sent prior to the election period, many posters were found along streets, on bridges, public structures or buildings, trees, electric posts or wires; in schools, shrines and main thoroughfares, last May.
Election materials can be posted in private properties and homes with the owners’ consent.
Anyone caught violating the law faces one to six years’ imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from holding any public office.
But no one has so far been convicted of such a crime.
Section 4 of Resolution 8320 orders the designation of 10 common poster areas in each barangay, and states that every candidate is allowed to place only one poster in every area.
“The common poster area shall be erected in a public place such as plazas, markets, barangay centers and the like, at the expense of the candidates availing themselves of the poster area. The common poster area shall not exceed 12 by 16 feet,” read the resolution.
The placing of campaign materials in non-poster areas has always been a common violation during elections because those doing it do not know or were not briefed.
Section 3 orders that a candidate’s pamphlet should be no more than 8.5 by 14 inches, while posters should be, at most, two by three feet.
It also declared “illegal to remove, destroy, obliterate, or in any manner deface or tamper with, or prevent (the) distribution” of campaign materials.
Section 7, meanwhile, states that each candidate should spend only P3 for every voter—so that for a barangay with 10,000 registered voters, a candidate should not spend beyond P30,000 for the elections.
A candidate is also prohibited from holding dances, lotteries, cockfights, games, boxing, bingo, beauty contests or any other activities designed to raise funds for an election campaign or to support a candidate.
Those who accept donations, gift, food, transportation, contribution, or donation in cash or in kind from a candidate or his representative is to be held equally liable.
“Normal and customary religious stipends, tithes, or collections on Sunday and/or other designated collection days (though) are excluded from this prohibition,” Section 6 stated.
It is not uncommon, though, for election bets to sponsor events like beach outings by providing funds and transportation.
Also, in a statement sent to Sun.Star Cebu, the Philippine National Police declared its “intensive and well-coordinated security plan” for the elections “100 percent ready” for implementation.
But because Cebu City is not known for being violent during elections, Razon will not be recommending any barangays to be classified as election “areas of concern” or “areas of immediate concern.”
The CCPO, though, will closely monitor Barangays Lahug, Guadalupe and Pasil.
“There might be arguments but I don’t think these will escalate to violence,” he said.
Razon likewise ordered PNP commanders to put up more checkpoints to prevent the movement of partisan armed groups and the transport of firearms.
As of Friday, 119 persons, 105 of whom were civilians, have yielded 40 high-powered and 72 low-powered firearms in violation of the Comelec gun ban.
Razon also ordered local commanders to know in advance the candidates’ barangay assembly and public forum schedules, as well as specific venues, to secure the activities. (RHM/MEA)
