Comelec tells bets to remove campaign posters
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 15 May 2019 08:58:42 +0000
VOLUNTEERS from Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City take down campaign posters used by candidates during the midterm elections. (Mark Balmores)
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday reminded national and local candidates to remove and dispose their campaign posters properly because failure to do so is tantamount to an election offense.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said that if candidates could spend so much money to produce and disseminate their posters, they should also be able to take it down themselves.
“Nananawagan ako sa mga kandidato, ang laki naman ng gastos niyo sa pagpalagay ng posters niyo, gumastos na rin kayo ng konti para tanggalin ang posters niyo at ilagay sa tamang basura,” Guanzon told reporters before the resumption of the canvassing of the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) in Pasay City.
In Metro Manila alone, at least 145.42 tons of garbage composed mainly of campaign posters and other paraphernalia were collected on Tuesday, the day after the elections, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The outspoken commissioner added that candidates could also recycle the plastic tarpaulins or donate them to homeless people.
“Bad manners po iyang nagkakalat kayo ng basura dyan. Tapos nanalo kayo o natalo iiwanan niyo ang posters niyo sa amin? Bakit kami naman ang maglilinis ng basura nila?,” she asked.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez echoed Guanzon’s sentiments, saying that candidates should help in the taking down their posters and other campaign materials.
According to the election rules, candidates should take down their campaign posters and other election paraphernalia immediately after the election day.
Guanzon warned that violating this election rule could mean disqualification of a winning candidate.
“Election offense na iyan na more than three days notice at hindi pa sila nagtanggal,” she said.
Guanzon said a monitoring committee will determine who among the national and local candidates failed to follow the said election rule. (Martin Sadongdong)