BACOLOD City – The city government is coordinating with the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) in order to assist the agency in the implementation of the nationwide “Operation Baklas” on Friday, March 28, also the start of the local campaign period for the May 12 midterm polls.
“Officially, this Friday the [local] campaign period will start and we are careful about that. Actually, we coordinated with the Comelec if ever they need assistance coming from the city to impose its guidelines,” Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.
The poll body earlier announced that a synchronized nationwide “Operation Baklas” will be conducted on Friday, where tarpaulins, posters, banners, and other campaign materials posted in non-designated areas will be removed.
“The candidates must be responsible in posting their campaign materials,” said Mayor Benitez, He added: “Kabudlay man nga mahimo kita sang policies, guidelines, sang mga banning sa certain activities nga wala man enforcement. So I’m supporting sa tanan nga law enforcement agencies to abide and enforce sa aton Comelec rulings.”
For his part, Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica, director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), advised all political candidates to always remind their supporters to be aware of the provisions regarding the Omnibus Election Code and other Comelec issuances.
“Kay basi makibot kita nag-post sila sa indi designated sang Comelec kag dakpon sila sang police kay election offense ila atubangon,” Coronica explained.
He clarified though that only the supporters of the candidates caught posting materials in non-designated poster areas will be liable for the election offense.
“Our political candidates should advice their supporters not to do such thing,” Coronica added./PN
