By Ferdinand Patinio/PNA
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said aspirants in this year’s mid-term elections have until February 11 to remove their posters, tarpaulins and other campaign propaganda.
“Take it down before start of campaign period, otherwise something that will be dealt with legally. Every single bit of campaign propaganda now will automatically be in violation of campaign rules by February 12 (too large and not in common poster areas),” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a press briefing.
Once the campaign period starts, Jimenez said these materials can only be placed in common posters areas.
“Common poster areas, defined by local Election Officer, frequently located in areas of high pedestrian traffic, walls of market, park; if outside common poster area, it is in violation of election law,” Jimenez noted.
The poll body official reiterated that the aside from location limitation, campaign posters and tarpaulins have appropriate sizes.
“The size for printed materials maximum of 2×3 feet; any size above that is in violation of campaign rules, equals to electoral offense, which punishable by disqualification, among others,” Jimenez said.
At the same time, he said that they will be creating a group and will coordinate with local government units that will dismantle illegal campaign posters and tarpaulins.
Jimenez also reminded the aspirants in the forthcoming polls to comply with campaign spending rules as provided by law.
Candidates who are running under a political party can only spend PHP3 per voter while independent bets are allowed to spend PHP5 per voter.
Paid broadcast advertisements must not exceed 120 minutes per TV station and 180 minutes per radio station.
In newspapers, candidates can only place ads with the size of one-fourth page in broadsheets and half-page size for tabloids.
On the other hand, the campaign period for local positions will start on March 29.
