Commission on Elections (Comelec) Oplan Baklas teams in Negros started removing illegally posted campaign materials of candidates for senator and party-list groups on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
In Bacolod City 286 campaign posters, many of the Uswag Ilonggo and Nanay partylist groups, were removed, City Election Officer Revo Sorbito said.
They removed campaign materials from trees, posts and walls along Araneta and Lacson streets in Bacolod, he said, adding that the Oplan Baklas drive will be conducted once a week.
Campaign posters should be two by three feet in size only and should be placed in common poster areas, he said
“We appeal to candidates and their supporters to follow campaign rules to avoid facing charges”, he said.
“We also appeal to them not to illegally post campaign materials because the time Comelec personnel spend taking them down could be spent focusing on preparations for the elections,” he added.
Negros Occidental Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said they commenced “Oplan Baklas” on Tuesday to remove illegal campaign materials in public spaces, ensuring compliance with election and environmental regulations.
‘RESPECT EACH OTHER’
Negros Occidental candidates for provincial posts are set to sign a covenant in support of peaceful and orderly elections at the Negros Occidental Provincial Police headquarters at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City on Thursday, Feb. 13.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he cannot be at the event as he has to be in Manila on that day.
He, however, is calling on all candidates to respect each other.
“I’ve heard of reports of (campaign) tarpaulins being vandalized and torn,” he said.
“Tarpaulins don’t win the elections but what’s important is let’s respect each other – just put up your tarpaulin and nobody will touch it”, he said.
“Let’s show that in Negros we can have a peaceful campaign,” he said.*