THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) may deputize members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to remove oversized posters of candidates in the lead-up to next year’s elections.
However, Atty. Rafael Olano, Comelec 7 director, clarified that putting up oversized posters before the campaign period, which starts on Feb. 25 and ends on May 11, is not a criminal offense.
Speaking during the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) quarterly meeting, Olano made the statement after the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists commented that in the 2013 elections, the Comelec failed to prosecute violators of the elections laws, particularly those who put up oversized posters.
Olano was guest of the CCPC meeting with the theme: “How Comelec deals with media.”
In need of help
On whether social media campaigning is also regulated under the Fair Elections Act, Olano said he will refer the matter to their education and legal department in Manila for an accurate legal opinion.
“While the Comelec is the implementer of election laws, we cannot do it alone. We need the people who can form perception and public opinion, and it is the media,” Olano said.
He admitted that they have a problem with public perception.
“We need you (media) to form perception of the people based on what the Comelec is doing, or what the candidates are doing, or candidates are able to introduce themselves to the voters,” Olano said.
Olano was accompanied by lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Cebu’s Comelec provincial election supervisor.
In the same forum, Laila Labajo of the Cebu Citizens Involvement Maturation for People Empowerment and Liberation core group, said they are the local election watchdog of the Catholic church.
Trainings, workshops
Fr. Carmelo Diola, chairman of Dilaab Foundation Inc., asked for an update on persons arrested for vote-buying during the 2013 elections.
He said disseminating what happens to the pillars of justice will make people in the grass-roots level feel they are not alone.
“If people feel that they are not alone, they are willing to volunteer in making the coming election clean, peaceful and honest,” Diola said.
Dilaab executive director Teresa Tejero said their group will conduct a series of trainings and seminar-workshops for volunteers so they will be effective in the campaign to convince people to vote with their conscience and not to sell their votes.
Mayren Cogtas, Dilaab “I Vote Good” project coordinator, said they received information that unscrupulous politicians started preparing for the 2016 elections more than a year ago.