Tom orders removal of campaign materials

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Tomas Osmeña has directed the department of public services to start cleaning up the city of campaign materials, especially those put up in the urban barangays, immediately after the elections.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama said candidates of Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK) earlier agreed to hire persons who can help city personnel in cleaning up the city of their campaign materials.

Still, there are those who believe losing candidates would even bother removing their campaign materials.

“Dili ko motoo nga kadtong mga kandidato nga mangapilde sa eleksyon ganahan pa nga moapil sa pagpanglimpyo sa ilang mga propaganda materials nga gipamutang sa public ug private areas,” said Veronica Abella of barangay Labangon.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, some DPS personnel said they will comply with the mayor’s directive, but the same could not be accomplished in just a day.

“Lisud kaayo nang trabahoa uy kay dugay kaayo na panangtangon ang mga gipapilit nga posters. Kaniadtong miaging eleksyon, gigamitan g’yod namo og tubig aron mohumok ang mga gipapilit nga posters,” a DPS personnel said.

It was suggested that personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection help spraying water on the campaign materials to make them easier to remove, especially those posted on walls and electric posts.

The Commission on Elections had prohibited campaign materials outside the designated Comelec common poster areas. In fact, a joint team of Comelec and police has started removing campaign materials posted in prohibited areas.

The Comelec has only allowed the candidates to put up their campaign materials in public markets, plazas, city, municipal and barangay halls. The Comelec, however, could not remove those posted in private places unless with the permission of the property owners.  (FREEMAN NEWS)