NOW that the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are over, what is going to happen to the campaign materials of political candidates?
Commission on Elections (Comelec) 7 Director Atty. Veronico Petalcorin urged both elected and defeated bets to start removing their campaign materials, especially those that were posted on prohibited areas, such as government-owned properties and electric posts.
According to Petalcorin, politicians whose campaign materials were posted on prohibited areas might face charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9006, or the Fair Election Act.
“They might be imprisoned for one to six months, or permanently banned from running for public office for committing an election offense,” he told SunStar Cebu.
Section 9 of RA 9006 states that Comelec may authorize political parties and party-list groups to establish common poster areas for their candidates in not more than ten public places such as plazas, markets, barangay centers, among others, wherein candidates can post, display or exhibit election propaganda.
Candidates may also post lawful propaganda material in private places provided, though, that they are given consent by the owner.
“If someone complains about an illegal campaign material or election material placed outside the common poster area, before a case will be filed, Comelec must notify the owner of the campaign materials for them to remove within three days from receipt,” Petalcorin said.
“Failure to remove is a presumption that the candidate is the one who caused the posting of the materials. Then the materials can be used for filing a case against them,” he said.
It is the Comelec that will investigate and prosecute those that will be accused of posting in prohibited areas.
Although there has been no complaints on illegal campaign materials yet, Petalcorin said politicians should still start cleaning up.
“It’s blocking the view and they should be responsible in the community. It’s time to uphold cleanliness and the law,” he added. (RTF)