A DAY after the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged candidates to start removing their campaign materials.
At a news conference, Comelec Commissioner Tito F. Guia said they will hold all BSKE candidates accountable for the materials they used for their campaign.
“Since they were the ones who posted it, they should be the ones who should be responsible in taking them down,” Guia said.
While the poll official admitted there is no law empowering the Comelec to go after those who will refuse to remove their campaign materials and do a cleanup, Guia said the commission could cite ordinances of local government units (LGU) to compel them to do so.
“If they don’t remove the illegal [campaign materials]…we will look into the ordinances of local government and barangays that prohibits the act. Since violation of ordinances is a criminal act, they could be arrested because of it,” Guia said.
In a related development, Comelec Acting Chairman Al A. Parreño said they will provide legal aid for teachers, who may be named respondents in election-related cases.
“We have partnered with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to provide legal support for those who will be charged,” Parreño said.
On Monday the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) reported it received several complaints of harassment from teacher who served as Board of Election Tellers in the BSKE.
Despite the said reports, the Comelec and its partner government agencies said the 2018 BSKE was generally peaceful and successful, with minimal incidents of election violence.