NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) warned on Friday that police officers should not be involved in the removal of unlawfully placed campaign materials and posters, which are the topic of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ‘Oplan Baklas.’

In a radio interview, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said, “Sa actual na pagtatanggal at pagbabaklas (ng campaign materials), malinaw po ang tagubilin sa atin na dapat ang PNP po ay limited lamang sa pagbibigay ng security assistance sa miyembro ng task force.”

Fajardo was referring to the “Oplan Baklas” task group that is chaired by the election officer and co-chaired by the chief of police in each district.

This followed viral photographs of police officers in Echague, Isabela, tearing down campaign signs.

According to Fajardo, the incident has reached Camp Crame and is currently being investigated.

“Ang kanilang immediate supervisors po ang pagpapaliwanagin (Their immediate bosses will be asked to explain),” she continued.

She also promised that any PNP employee found to have broken the established protocol on the subject will be chastised, if not prosecuted.

On campaign posters, spell out the regulations.

In the run-up to the May 9 national elections, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III of the Partido Reporma suggested the Comelec should clarify its rules on campaign posters and have more practical and realistic laws.

The Lacson-Sotto tandem specifically asked Comelec to explain its guidelines on the size of campaign posters and their placement inside private property, as well as other permissible moves in these first elections held under a global pandemic of Covid-19, during their regular “Meet the Press” forum on Thursday.

Although the polling organization stated it will remove certain posters and billboards erected inside homes or on private property with the approval of their owners, Lacson argued it might be a violation of individuals’ rights who are simply expressing their support for a particular candidate.

“Wag lang ako makakasakit ng ibang tao, property ko ito, maski anong gawin ko rito.” Is it possible to pagbabawalan? If ‘yung private property ko nilagyan ko ng kanyon na nakaubang, nakakapanakot, ‘yung may-ari ng bahay o’yung private property pwede managot. However, because [‘yung] harmless na sabihin na nating tarpaulins o maski ano, I believe they should reconsider (This is my property, and I may do anything I want with it as long as I don’t harm anyone else.) Why are you refusing to allow it? If I install menacing cannons on my land and they scare others, the homeowner or private property owner may be held accountable. However, for something as innocuous as tarpaulins, I believe they should reconsider the legislation,” he continued.

Comelec’s recent remarks that it would hold candidates liable for such offenses, according to Sotto, are huge threats that may be utilized by political opponents to damage or disqualify them.

Candidates are not allowed to shake hands, take pictures, or otherwise socialize with their supporters during campaign sorties, according to Comelec’s other campaign regulations.

Sotto believes it’s difficult to comprehend why some candidates are risking disqualification by committing these behaviors that aren’t illegal, while others are openly breaking other rules.

Lacson further argues that obtaining a permit from the polling organization for any activity a candidate engages in is impractical, especially if the activity does not cause significant public discomfort, such as passing by or visiting public sites.

Since announcing their candidacies in September 2021, the Lacson-Sotto team has maintained that their campaign has carefully observed Comelec procedures to ensure a safe and fair campaign season.

They also urged the Comelec to punish and make an example of candidates who they believe have broken health protocols while campaigning to ensure true equality under the law.

‘Oplan Baklas’ is defended by the DILG.

Meanwhile, despite objections from candidates and their supporters, Secretary Eduardo Ao of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) defended the removal of allegedly illegal campaign posters on private homes.

He emphasized that the Comelec notifies the impacted parties of the alleged breach before the campaign posters are seized.

“There’s also a word of caution. The Comelec notifies the personalities in the poster that they must delete the poster within three days before it is removed),” Ao said in a television interview.

The DILG chief stated that if the involved parties do not take necessary measures, the Comelec and law enforcement will be called in.

Ao advised candidates and their supporters to just observe Comelec’s campaign standards.

He also stressed that the Omnibus Election Code takes precedence and that politicians, their supporters, and the electorate should follow it.

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