Comelec NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano*
The deadline for the filing of election protests versus local candidates was Thursday, May 22, Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano of the Negros Island Region Commission on Elections said.
Castillano said he did not know how many protests were filed in the NIR since filing was done directly with the Comelec main office in Manila or the Regional Trial Courts.
Protest cases under the jurisdiction of the Comelec national office are those that involve the governor, vice governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, city mayor, city vice mayor, and Sangguniang Panlungsod members, he said.
Election cases for municipal officials were to be filed before the Regional Trial Court of the municipality where local official is located, he said.
The complainants were required to furnish a copy of their protests to the people being petitioned against, Castillano added.
Castillano also reminded all candidates to remove their campaign materials from public places, including posts and trees, and from common poster areas or face charges for violation of the Fair Election Act.
He urged candidates to turn their campaign materials over to material recovery facilities for recycling.*