By Gail Momblan/Philippine News Agency
ILOILO CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) 6 (Western Visayas) successfully conducted synchronized “Operation Baklas” on Monday.
Three teams from the Iloilo City election office, Iloilo provincial and regional Comelec offices tore down campaign posters which failed to conform with the requirements of the Comelec, said Jose Nick Mendros, Comelec 6 regional director.
“Operation Baklas’ team was deployed at 6 a.m. and concluded operations on 10:30 a.m. on Monday. Other municipalities conducted their “Operation Baklas” Monday night.
Mendros expressed his satisfaction with the turnout of the operation.
“In our team alone (regional office team), we have filled the dump truck of the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) and one jeepney with illegally posted campaign materials that we removed,” Mendros said in a phone interview.
No violent reactions were heard from the public, which made the operation lighter, Mendros said.
“We knocked at big houses, asking for their permission to remove oversized posters at their fences and fortunately, they all agreed,” he said.
He clarified that private properties are allowed to post campaign materials of candidates they are supporting only if they follow Comelec rules.
If private home owners will not allow the removal of oversized posters, the Comelec will write a formal letter to them.
He said candidates were already informed with the limitations regarding campaign posters.
“They should know by now what are allowed and what are prohibited,” he said, adding that the candidates should relay the information to their supporters and commissioned personnel posting the materials.
Medros said the actual number of posters removed will be finalized by the regional Comelec after the Holy Week.
He said the Operation Baklas might be the last operation before the election on May 13 “because the Comelec has many other obligations than the Operation Baklas.”
“But the municipalities can conduct Operation Baklas at their own initiatives,” he said.
Meantime, Iloilo City Election Assistant II Jonathan Sayno said that they have yet to classify the campaign materials that were gathered.
They were able to gather one dumptruck and three public utility jeepneys of illegal campaign materials during the more than four hours of operation.
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