by Ferdinand Patinio/PNA
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday reminded candidates to keep their campaign clean and peaceful, ahead of the start of the campaign period for local bets.
“We remind the candidates to please keep the campaigns clean. Like literally clean because the tendency of local campaign is to leave trash behind whenever they would hold political rallies,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters.
“So they would leave water bottles, styro packs and things like that. It adds an incredible load to the garbage already being dealt by the city. So candidates should be really responsible in cleaning up after themselves,” Jimenez added.
Jimenez, head of the poll body’s Education and Information Department (EID), also reminded the candidates to keep an eye on their supporters.
“We all know local elections could be rowdy. They could be unruly so napakahalaga na yung mga supporters ay maging orderly sa kanilang pag-iikot sa mga daan daan (it is important for supporters to be orderly in roaming around the streets), especially in the cities. We have to keep the campaigns clean and peaceful as much as we can,” Jimenez said.
He also urged candidates to refrain from noisy campaigning especially during the wee hours of the day.
“Most importantly, of course, be considerate of the local communities especially the candidates who love holding rallies at 4 in the morning or at 5 in the morning. Those are a constant source of irritation for communities all over the country. Yes, (noise pollution) especially in the early morning. While 4 o’ clock is an extreme example, the more common example is late at night around 11 in the evening meron pa din mobile vans with sound system,” the EID Director added.
The campaign period for those running in local positions such for members of House of Representatives, and provincial, city, and municipal officials will start on March 29 until May 11.
Jimenez also reiterated his call for the aspirants to take down their campaign materials posted outside the designated common poster areas since these will be considered illegal starting Friday.
“Number one, we sent notices yesterday (Wednesday) to remove materials that have already been posted because at start of the election period those campaign materials will become illegal materials,” he said.
He explained that propaganda materials that are on common posters areas and private properties with the consent of the owners will not be removed.
