THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Benguet is set to conduct “operation baklas” and has sought the help of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates to get rid of all campaign paraphernalia.
Comelec provincial election supervisor Elenita Capuyan said winning and losing candidates should voluntarily take down the campaign posters.
“Bring down all campaign paraphernalias as soon as possible,” Capuyan stressed.
“Operation baklas” will be conducted by the Philippine National Police, Department of Public Works and Highways and the different Comelec offices. The monitoring and operation is set to start on May 21 and 23.
Meanwhile, a post-evaluation meeting is set on May 22 to discuss the observations and problems encountered during the Barangay and SK elections.
The Comelec reminded all candidates who ran for this year’s elections to immediately file their statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) on or before June 14.
Without SOCE, the candidates are subjected to an administrative fine of P1,000 to P30,000 depending on the discretion of the commission, and will not be allowed to take their oath as officials.
Capuyan added a candidate who failed to file his SOCE twice may lead to perpetual disqualification.
Earlier, Comelec-Cordillera regional director Julius Torres asked the aid of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to prevent winning officials from resuming to office without SOCEs.