Bets continue to defy campaign rules on posters

Four presidential candidates and their running-mates are facing possible disqualification for allegedly failing to remove their oversized and illegally-placed campaign materials despite repeated warnings from the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Three senatorial candidates and four party-list groups were likewise warned over the same violation. In a memorandum furnished to GMANews.TV, the Comelec Education and Information Department (EID) said that an inspection conducted in the National Capital Region last April 5 showed that the "unlawful" campaign materials of Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III (Liberal Party), former president Joseph M. Ejercito Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino), Sen. Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan), and evangelist Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas) are still up despite notices given them by the poll body. Their running mates - Sen. Manuel Roxas (LP), Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay (PMP), former Metro Manila Development Authority head Bayani Fernando (Bagumbayan), and former Securities and Exchange Commission chief Perfecto Yasay (Bangon Pilipinas) - were also cited as violators. More violators Other violators were senatorial bets broadcaster Rey Langit, lawyer Jayvee Bautista, and Sen. Lito Lapid; as well as party-list groups BIDA, ATING KOOP, BUKID, and LPGMA. These candidates were earlier warned by the Comelec Law Department through formal letters that they should take down their campaign materials to avoid being sanctioned. Comelec spokesperson and EID chief James Jimenez said that the poll body law department may remove the campaign material themselves or file a disqualification against the candidates outright if the candidates continue to ignore the warning. "Pwede na kasi hindi sila sumunod sa utos ng Comelec (We can do that because they did not follow Comelec's orders," Jimenez told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. Comelec Law Department head Ferdinand Rafanan could not be immediately reached for comment. Proof According to the EID document, the candidates' campaign paraphernalia were either posted in areas outside of the common poster areas or were in violation of the size limitation prescribed by the law. Comelec Resolution 8758 requires candidates to put up their advertisements on common poster areas such as plazas, markets, and barangay centers. Party-list groups and political parties are only allowed to construct 12 x 16 feet poster areas while independent candidates may only erect 4 x 6 feet poster areas or its equivalent. The resolution also requires that posters should not exceed 2 x 3 feet while streamers should not be more than 3 x 8 feet. Violation of Resolution 8758 constitutes an election offense, which is punishable by one to six years imprisonment, disenfranchisement, and disqualification from holding public office. - KBK/GMANews.TV