Comelec summons 6 bets over posters

MANILA, Philippines - Six senatorial candidates and five party-list groups were subpoenaed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) over their unlawful campaign posters.

The five senatorial aspirants were: former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, Benigno “Bam” Aquino of Team PNoy, re-electionist Sen. Gregorio Honasan and former senator Richard Gordon of United Nationalist Alliance, and Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas.

Party-list group LPG Marketers Association (LPGMA) had once again received a subpoena while it is still facing possible cancellation of its accreditation, also for violating the campaign poster rules.

Also subpoenaed by the Comelec Law Department were Akbayan, 1 Bro-Philippine Guardian Brotherhood Inc. (1BRO-PGBI), Sanlakas, and Bagong Henerasyon.

Each of them were given specific dates for preliminary investigation to determine if election offense should be filed against them.

The Comelec Law Department said that complaints have been filed against the candidates and party-list groups “for violation of Sec. 9 of Fair Election Act as implemented by Sec. 17 (posting campaign materials) in relation to Comelec Resolution 9615.”a

“You are hereby warned that if you fail to appear on the date and time stated, you will be deemed to have waived your right to be heard and present your evidence. No postponement will be granted unless on exceptionally meritorious ground,” the law department added.

Comelec personnel from the Education and Information Division that had been documenting violations of campaign rules filed the complaints.