A Catholic Church-run school in Capiz province and two volunteer groups backing the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from taking down campaign materials posted by non-candidates on private property.
In a 52-page urgent petition for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus, the petitioners also sought a temporary restraining order to bar the poll body from implementing Comelec Resolution No. 10730, particularly the provisions on the removal, dismantling, destruction and confiscation of prohibited election materials, on those funded by private individuals and posted or installed within privately-owned property.
They asked the high tribunal to order the poll body to “return and/or restore all tarpaulins, posters, billboard, murals, and other election materials dismantled, removed, defaced and/or confiscated pursuant to ‘Oplan Baklas’.”
The Supreme Court was also urged to declare as unconstitutional the Comelec’s acts in interpreting and implementing the pertinent provisions of its resolution.
The petitioners included St. Anthony College (SAC) of Roxas City, Inc. represented by Sr. Geraldine Denoga; Dr. Pilita de Jesus Liceralde, a convener of Isabela for Leni; and Dr. Anton Mari Hao Lim, a convener of Zamboangeños for Leni.
They argued that the Comelec resolution, which the poll body cited in implementing its campaign against unlawful election paraphernalia only covered propaganda materials of candidates, political parties and party list organizations.
“(N)owhere in the Fair Election Act is it provided that campaign materials by private citizens [will] also be covered by the size requirements imposed upon candidates and political parties in general,” the group said. (©Philippine Daily Inquirer 2022 / Nestor P. Burgos Jr )
