Illegal local campaign posters taken down in 'Grand Baklas' ops
Metro Manila, Philippines - Poll chairman George Garcia expressed relief as illegal campaign posters of local aspirants were removed, following their official recognition as candidates at the start of the local election campaign period on Friday, March 28.
“Matagal na namin itong hinihintay. Matagal na rin kaming nagngingitngit dahil nga syempre hindi kami makapagtanggal dahil hindi pa sila kandidato, aspirants pa lang sila before, ngayon officially kandidato sila,” Garcia said in a chance interview in Manila.
[Translation: We've been waiting for this for a long time. We've also been frustrated because, of course, we couldn't take them down since they weren't candidates yet, they were just aspirants before. Now, they are officially candidates.]
The Commission on Elections has repeatedly stated that its actions on violations by local aspirants were limited before the start of the campaign period.
On Friday, the Comelec conducted "Grand Baklas" operations nationwide, removing campaign posters that exceeded the size limits set by the poll body (2ft by 3ft for posters and 3ft by 8ft for streamers), as well as those posted in unauthorized public spaces such as footbridges and those made from plastic or other non-environmentally friendly materials.
Garcia noted that, around the Pritil market in Manila alone, officials and personnel of Comelec and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) collected a truckload of illegal campaign materials on Friday morning. He anticipates tons of illegal posters across the country will be removed.
In the coming days, Garcia said the Comelec will no longer remove the illegal campaign materials but will instead order candidates to take them down within three days or face the possibility of disqualification.
The same rule applies to national candidates whose campaign period began on Feb. 11.
Garcia previously said the poll body has sent notices to all 66 senatorial candidates, instructing them to remove their illegal campaign materials specifically in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
