After cleaning up the mess created by the campaign materials used in the recent synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, Vice Mayor Michael Rama said it is also about time to remove the “thank you” streamers put up by those who won in the race.
Rama has directed the city councilors to, in turn, direct newly elected barangay officials to start putting down the streamers they have put up to express gratitude to those who voted for them.
Rama said while it is okay for the newly elected barangay officials to express gratitude to those who supported them in the elections, the banners cannot be left hanging for a long time.
He explained that when the banners are exposed to the weather, they would start to gather dirt and would even get tattered, thus, would eventually be an unpleasant sight and would make the surroundings dirty.
Councilor Jack Jakosalem said they will make a follow-up on barangay officials to heed the advise of the vice mayor.
Jakosalem explained that if the city has to be strict about it, no election material should already be seen around the city by this time. He said based on a city ordinance, materials put up for a certain activity need to be removed two days after the activity culminated.
Despite reports of massive vote buying, the Commission on Elections had described the elections as generally peaceful while police have reported no untoward incidents during the activity.
But the police had arrested at least 36 people from around the region for violation of the liquor ban.
Of those arrests, 16 were in Cebu City while another 16 were around Cebu province. One arrest was made in Mandaue City, two in Negros Oriental, and one in Siquijor.
In other election-related offenses, at least 13 firearms were seized and 13 persons were also arrested.
In Cebu City, police had charged nine persons for violating the liquor ban the night before the elections. The ban took effect midnight on October 27 and ended midnight after the election day. — Joeberth M. Ocao/LPM