ILOILO City – Today starts the official campaign period for candidates running for local elective posts for the May 13 midterm elections.
These posts are for governor, vice governor, provincial board member, city and municipal mayor and vice mayor, city and municipal council member, and congressman.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Region 6 reminds the candidates and their supporters not to violate campaign rules and regulations.
According to Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros, among these are the size of campaign posters, the designated common poster areas, and the printing of the donors and printers of the campaign posters.
If the campaign materials are displayed in privately-owned areas, the consent of the owners must be secured, he stressed.
No campaign materials must be displayed on electric posts, barangay halls and bridges owned by the government, Mendros added.
“If our election officers will designate the barangay hall as the common poster area, hindi ho ‘yung wall ng barangay hall ang poster area. They have to put up a structure para doon maglagay ng posters,” he clarified.
Comelec kicked off Operation Baklas to remove illegal campaign posters Friday last week.
In the conduct of miting de avance, said Mendros, requirements set by the local government unit concerned must be followed such as securing a permit.
“The request for such permit cannot be denied except if mayroon nang nauna na nag-file ng request to hold a miting de avance in the same venue and at the same time and date,” said Mendros.
Violators of election campaign rules and regulations may be charged with committing an election offense and imprisoned for a maximum of six years without parole and probation.
Violators may also be perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
Mendros said election officers would be going around to check if candidates are following election campaign rules and regulations./PN
