TARPAULINS of five senatorial candidates and one local candidate were removed by Cebu City’s Preventive Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (Probe) after they found to be placed in areas within the route of the Sinulog grand parade.

Raquel Bohol-Arce, Probe head, identified the candidates whose tarpaulins they removed are former Philippine National Police Director-General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, senators Sonny Angara and Koko Pimentel, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Bong Go and Ilocos Norte Govenor Imee Marcos.

A total of 50 tarpaulins of national candidates were removed from the Sinulog grand parade route, Arce said.

Even tarpaulins of former Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who is running for vice mayor under Partido Barug, were removed by Probe personnel.

At least three of Rama’s tarpaulins were removed by Probe during their sweep in the city.

But it was Marcos’ tarpaulins that gained wide attention, particularly in social media, after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña called her attention in his Facebook page.

On Friday, Osmeña ordered the removal of Marcos’ tarpaulins after they were found to be placed within some parts of the grand parade’s route.

But in another post, Osmeña showed a text message from Marcos agreeing with his proposal.

“Thank you for the reminder and I have asked our supporters to take the tarp down. Meanwhile, Viva Pit Senyor,” Marcos said, in her text message.

Osmeña earlier discouraged politicians to post their tarpaulins during the Sinulog as he doesn’t want the annual festival to be politicized. (PAC of Superbalita Cebu/JKV)