The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has observed fewer illegal campaign materials in this year’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections after the launching of Oplan Baklas in Negros Occidental.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said on Tuesday, October 24, that they submit an inventory to the Comelec central office after each operation, which started on October 20.
“Compared to the previous elections, there’s fewer violations now,” he told reporters.
He said that during the initial operation, personnel of Comelec offices took down campaign materials placed outside the designated common poster areas, mounted on trees, and waiting sheds and called out candidates not adhering to the prescribed sizes of campaign posters.
Another simultaneous Oplan Baklas activity is on Oct. 27.
Ananoria said the Comelec Law Department would determine if the candidates with removed campaign materials would be charged for their violation.
“If it’s really illegal, the election officer will file the case,” he added.
The Comelec’s “Oplan Baklas” operations allow its personnel to take down oversized and illegally placed campaign materials.
Campaign materials become illegal when posted in restricted public areas and when bigger than prescribed by the Omnibus Election Code.
The 10-day campaign period for the BSKE started on Oct. 19 and will run until Saturday, October 28.*PNA