For National Positions Only: Campaign period officially kicks off

CEBU, Philippines - The campaign period for those running for national positions and the partylist elections officially starts today.

Those running for local office, however, are not yet officially allowed to campaign and they can only do so starting March 26.

As the campaign period for national positions start, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that anybody can remove campaign materials placed in non-designated areas.

Cebu City North District election officer Marchel Sarno said that starting today until May 8, candidates seeking national positions will only be allowed to put up posters and other election paraphernalia in common poster areas identified by the Comelec which may include barangay halls, public markets, sports complex or basketball courts and public plazas.

Candidates may also post campaign advertisements in private buildings or places only if owners will give their consent, Sarno said.

Posters are strictly prohibited on trees, electric posts, wires and other places outside the common poster areas.

Banners shall only be posted in the declared station or headquarters of the candidate’s political party.

The Department of Education also stressed that campaign posters or banners are not allowed in public school buildings and other properties of public elementary and high schools inside the school’s premises.

Sarno said that any concerned citizen, who can see posters of a national candidate placed in non-designated areas has the authority to remove it or may file a complaint against the candidate at the prosecutor’s office or any Comelec office for illegal campaigning.

“It is their obligation to tear down illegally placed posters,” he said.

The Comelec Cebu City might create a team for removing of posters but Sarno said that it is not the Comelec’s priority as of now because all efforts are now focused in ensuring that there will be an election this coming May.

He said that they will not monitor non-designated areas, but complainants may come to their office anytime to file a complaint and the Comelec will assist in removing of posters.

Aside from identifying designated areas, Sarno said that national candidates better start modifying their campaign materials according to the guidelines set by Comelec in Resolution no. 8758, the rules and regulations implementing Fair Elections Practices Act.

Posters made of any material must not exceed the size allowed by Comelec, which shall be not more than two feet by three feet. Banners must not exceed three feet by five feet while written or printed campaign materials should not exceed eight and a half inches wide and 14 inches long.

 The allowable time for national candidates to broadcast election propaganda is only 120 minutes on television or cable television and 180 minutes on radio per station with no distinction whether it is purchased or donated.

Local candidates are only allowed 60 minutes on television and 90 minutes on radio.

For published propaganda of both national and local candidates, the maximum size one-fourth page for broadsheets and one half page for tabloids per candidate.

Comelec Provincial Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano clarified that today is only the start of campaign period for national candidates.

He said that those seeking for public positions, both national and local, will only be considered candidates once the campaign period starts.

The Comelec can not get a hold of local candidates who are posting in non-designated areas for now but will surely monitor once their campaign period starts. — /NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)