Illegal Campaign Posters Torn Down

Three garbage bags filled with illegal posters of every local and national candidate were ripped off from walls, trees and electric posts by a multi-sectoral task force in barangay Talamban, Cebu City yesterday.

The poster removal was spearheaded by the group Tugkaran Hinloan comprised of personnel from the Commission on Elections in Central Visayas, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City chapter and the Global Legal Action on Climate Change.

Also joining the group were the Cebu Lady Lawyers Association, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, Dilaab Foundation, University of Cebu College of Law and University of Cebu Council of Presidents.

A dumptruck and a firetruck were deployed by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas to help on the poster removal.

About 77 police officers from the Cebu City Police Office took part in the cleaning activity on orders from the Police Regional Office-7.

GLACC member lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos said the activity would help remind the candidates to observe both election and environmental laws.

She said candidates should not vandalize non-Comelec designated areas with their illegally sized movie posters.

"The display of posters and campaign materials in trees, lamp posts and in places other than Comelec-designated areas and those beyond the regulated size, is a habit that promotes callous disrespect of the laws, destroys the environment. It should stop," Ramos said.

The posters exceeded the size limits specified in Section 9 of the Lawful Election Propaganda provision of Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Elections Act.

Under the provision, campaign posters should measure two by three feet while streamers should be three by eight feet.

Ramos said the poster removal activity will continue every week until the end of the campaign period.

Ramos also said these organizations will evaluate the violations of these candidates and will possibly file a formal complaint to the City Prosecutor's office.

"It's a lesson for the candidates that as leaders they have to ensure that rules are followed and they must know how to follow it as well," Ramos said.

She said these candidates are also liable for environmental degradation and public nuisance.

Father Carmelo Diola, over-all coordinating steward of the Dilaab foundation said the candidates should not excuse nor encourage their supporters to post these illegally-sized posters anywhere.

"The candidates should instruct their supporters to follow the law. They should put these posters on where it's supposed to be placed," Carmelo said.

March 08, 2010