Following the end of its three-day grace period for removing illegal materials, the the Commission on Elections started its crackdown on illegal campaign materials on Friday, with prominent candidates listed among violators.
The poll body deployed two teams to document all oversized and illegally placed posters and streamers along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila starting from the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.
“Our two teams will take photos of posters and billboards which still posted despite our previous notice for it to be taken down,” Comelec spokesperson James B. Jimenez said during a media forum yesterday.
Jimenez was referring to their general notice they issues earlier this week for all candidates to remove their illegal campaign materials.
Based on initial reports, among those who posted illegal campaign materials were the Bagong Henerasyon Partylist, Buhay Partylist, and Ang Kabuhayan Partylist.
The violators also include senatorial candidates former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, former Manuel “Mar” Araneta Roxas II, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., and Jose Pimentel “Jinggoy” Ejercito.
The posters were illegally posted on trees, on electric posts, and electric lines, and non-identified posters areas.
In a media forum yesterday, Comelec spokesperson James B. Jimenez disclosed they will be sending notices to the concerned candidates to remove the materials.
The poll official, however, explained the documentation drive will not lead to the automatic disqualification of the concerned candidates.
“If ever the candidates will still not comply, then that is only the time when cases will be filed or hearings will be held to get the side of the candidates who posted these illegal posters,” Jimenez said.
Test case
Despite being rampant during elections, illegal campaign materials have yet to lead to the sanction of any candidate, Jimenez said.
But, he noted there is “test case” on the said illegal campaign materials, which is now pending in Pasay City involving a local candidate, who run in the 2016 elections.
“I cannot give you the details because it is a pending case,” Jimenez said.
Erring candidates could be charged with an election offense and face imprisonment, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and being deprived their right to vote.
Social media impact
Legal Network of Truthful Elections (Lente) Executive Director Rona Ann Caritos welcomed Comelec’s “proactive” drive against illegal posters and streamers.
She commended the Comelec’s “unbiased” campaign.
“The list of candidates come from all the…the two major parties now competing in the May elections so there is no bias there,” Caritos said in a phone interview.
Caritos attributed the Comelec’s improved campaign against illegal materials to the growing number of Filipinos with access to social media, which helped the poll body field more reports.
“In 2016 they had a similar campaign, but now more people are responding to call of Comelec [to report illegal campaign materials],” Caritos said.
Initial list
Prior to the surveying conducted by Comelec on Friday, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon posted in her official Twitter account identifying 40 senatorial candidates with allegedly used illegal campaign posters.
The list included Former Consultative Committee (Con-Com) spokesperson Conrado ‘Ding’ Generoso and Senator Maria “Nancy” Binay.
Both candidates denied they have illegal posters and streamers.
Generoso vehemently said he “did not put a single poster anywhere in the country,” since opted to use social media for his campaign.
“Comelec’s inclusion of my name on the list of candidates with illegal posters tweeted by Com. Guanzon is preposterous, absurd, and ridiculous,” Generoso said.
Binay also said the list is “questionable.”
“I have no tarpaulins. I only have one billboard, which I did not come from me, but because of appeal was removed before the deadline,” Binay said.
Comelec has yet to respond to the said pronouncements to candidates included in the list released by Guanzon.