The Commission on Elections in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City joined the nationwide Operation Baklas drive to remove illegal campaign materials on Friday, October 20, Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said.
Ananoria said he instructed the election officers to remove illegal campaign materials, especially on trees and waiting sheds along the highways and in public places.
Removed were illegal campaign materials located outside of common poster areas and private properties, he said.
Among the prohibited election materials are billboards, posters, tarpaulins exceeding 2 by 3 feet, campaign or propaganda materials that violate gender sensitivity principles, and posters that do not bear the words “political advertisement paid for/by” or the words “printed free of charge”, Ananoria said.
The next Operation Baklas will be held on October 27, he added.
The distribution of campaign t-shirts, ballers, bags, sun visors, hats/caps, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, ballpens, fans, candies and other items of value is also strictly prohibited by the COMELEC
It also bans the distribution of food and drinks during and after a meeting or campaign sortie.
Meanwhile, the number of show cause orders issued for premature campaigning in Negros Occidental have increased to 157, with eight new ones issued in La Castellana town.*