Poll candidates with existing posted illegal campaign materials by Friday this week could soon face sanctions from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The election body will be ending on Thursday the three-day grace period it gave to candidates to remove all oversized and illegally placed campaign materials.
“On Friday, several teams of the Comelec will be documenting materials that are still out or still in place,” Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez said.
“And once we complete the documentation and then that is the time we will be taking legal action against those violations,” he added.
Jimenez clarified their crackdown will cover illegally placed campaign materials whether it is posted with or without the permission of a candidate. “If a poster is posted by supporter[s] without the permission of a candidate, the said candidate should still remove the illegal material since it is still benefiting them.
He also noted that even if such materials are “donated” to a candidate, it will still be counted against their existing spending limit and should be included in the Statement of Contribution and Expenditure (SOCE).
“So candidates could still overspend [for their campaign] if they have many of these [donated materials],” Jimenez said.
Based on Comelec regulations, the sizes for posters should not exceed 2 by 3 feet, while for its streamers it should not be more than 3 by 8 feet.
Election materials should also be posted within identified poster areas. It cannot be posted on trees and plants and private property, without the permission of the owner.
Violation of these conditions will be considered as an election offense, which is punishable by imprisonment, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and being deprived from their right to vote.
The Comelec kicked off its drive to remove illegal election materials on Tuesday with the start of the campaign period for national candidates.
During the campaign period, election prohibited acts for candidates will finally take effect.
Jimenez noted while many illegal posters were voluntarily removed before the start of the campaign period, he noted they still got numerous reports of illegal campaign materials.
The said illegal campaign materials were from former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis T. Tolentino, former Sens. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.