• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) sent notices of violation to 52 candidates aspiring for national elected positions for failing to comply with the rules on campaign posters in Negros Occidental.
The campaign period for senatorial aspirants and party-list representatives started Feb. 12.
Based on data furnished by the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor, from Feb. 24 to March 8, the Special Task Force Baklas removed 4,570 tarpaulins, with 1,523 taken out in highly-urbanized Bacolod City, and 1,250 in Silay City.
Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said on Thursday (March 13) that the notices of violation sent to candidates also requires them to remove campaign materials within three days from receipt of notice.
If the candidates fail to comply, the Comelec would recommend the filing of an election offense and disqualification complaint against the candidate, Comelec chairman George Garcia earlier said.
Comelec has reminded candidates that campaign materials should not be placed in public infrastructures, government buildings, and trees, but only in designated common poster areas.
“(We will give a) notice to remove first. If they do not comply, recommendations will be forwarded for election offense and disqualification cases against these candidates would be filed,” Garcia said.
The Comelec Operation Baklas on campaign materials of local candidates and congressional aspirants is set to start on March 28. | GB
