THE Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Cebu City will seek the help of the local parties for the rapid removal of campaign materials placed outside the common poster areas.
Lawyer Marchel Sarno, the south district election officer, said there is a lot of cleanup to do.
On Monday afternoon, April 8, the Comelec-Cebu City offices in the north and south districts filled seven trucks with campaign materials that were removed from non-designated common poster areas.
Sarno said most of the violators were local parties and they should take responsibility for their actions.
Lawyer Chauncey Boholst, the north district election officer, agreed with Sarno’s move.
Sarno said they will send letters to Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) of Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Barug PDP-Laban of Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, asking the parties to send at least 10 volunteers.
The Comelec personnel and the police will supervise the volunteers.
Sarno said civilians can volunteer, but they can only remove the posters in the presence of Comelec officers.
Superbalita Cebu called South District Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa and vice mayoralty candidate Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos of BOPK for their reactions, but they did not answer the calls.
The calls to Barug-PDP Laban’s Labella, a mayoralty candidate, and vice mayoralty candidate Mike Rama also went unanswered.
Sarno and Boholst want to get rid of posters that are over the allowed two feet by three feet size.
Section 7F of Comelec Resolution 10488 prohibits anyone “to post or display or exhibit any election campaign or propaganda material outside of common poster areas, in public places, or in private properties without the consent of the owner.”
Common poster areas identified by the Comelec are those near the barangay hall, public market, sports complex or the basketball court. (From PAC of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)