WITH less than a month to go before the May 12, 2025, local and national midterm elections, the Commission on Elections-Davao Region (Comelec-Davao) is ramping up efforts to crack down on the use of illegal campaign materials.
Comelec-Davao acting regional director Atty. Gay Enumerables said the unauthorized posting of campaign paraphernalia remains the most common violation committed by candidates and their supporters. Despite repeated clearing operations—locally referred to as baklas—the same violations continue to reappear.
“We’ve conducted numerous clearing operations, but the problem persists. Candidates or their supporters simply put the materials back,” Enumerables said during an April 15 interview on Madayaw Davao.
She issued a strong reminder to political parties to ensure their supporters follow campaign guidelines, warning that failure to comply could lead to disqualification cases.
“Even if the intention is good, if materials are posted improperly, it could backfire and result in disqualification rather than better visibility,” she said.
Violations have also been observed in designated poster areas, where many campaign materials fail to comply with the required 2×3-foot portrait format, resulting in cluttered and non-compliant displays.
Enumerables clarified that while billboards are allowed, they are subject to strict regulations. National candidates may display billboards for up to two months, with a minimum spacing of one kilometer between structures. Local candidates, meanwhile, are limited to one month, with at least 500 meters between billboards.
She also pointed out that campaign materials placed on private property without the owner's consent may be removed legally by the property owner.
Comelec-Davao continues to monitor compliance across the region. Candidates found violating the rules will be given 72 hours to remove the illegal materials. Failure to do so will result in a show cause order and may lead to formal legal proceedings. DEF