As the elections grow closer, new campaign posters are posted everywhere, literally everywhere. But did you know that there is a rule where posters are allowed and where they are prohibited?
The candidates are allowed to put up campaign materials in designated as common poster areas like:
- Plazas
- Markets
- Barangay centers
- and the like where posters may be readily seen or read, with the heaviest pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic in the city or municipality.
However they are not allowed to post on:
- Publicly-owned electronic billboards
- Motor vehicles used as patrol cars or ambulances
- Government-controlled public transits such as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Philippine National Railways (PNR)
- Main thoroughfares, waiting sheds, sidewalks
- Lamp posts, electric posts and wires
- Street signages
- Schools and barangay halls
- Public transport terminals
- Waiting sheds
- Pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers, and underpasses,
- Bridges
- Center islands of roads and highways
- Schools
- Shrines
- Barangay halls
- Health centers
- Public structures and buildings or any edifice;
- Terminals
- Trees, plants, and private or public places outside the designated areas.
Moreover, the following are prohibited forms of election propaganda materials:
- Newspaper, newsletter, newsweekly, gazette or magazine advertising
- Pamphlet, leaflet, card,
- Decal, bumper sticker
- Comic book, circular, handbill, streamer, sample list of candidates, or any published or printed political matter
- To air or broadcast any election propaganda or political advertisement by television or radio or on the internet for or against a candidate or group of candidates to any public office, unless they bear and be identified by the reasonably legible, or audible words “political advertisement paid for” followed by the true and correct name and address of the candidate or party for whose benefit the election propaganda was printed or aired.
Accoding to this CNN Philippines article, "People who spot illegal campaign materials can take a photo and upload it on social media. The poll body will use these photos as basis for taking the materials down."
Those found guilty of violating the rules may be charged with an election offense, which is punishable with up to six years in jail, disqualification from holding public office and deprivation of the right to vote.
The politicians can argue that it's not their fault if their supporters placed their campaign posters in the wrong places. But then that makes them incapable rulers. If they cannot discipline their own supporters, what are the chances that they can rule an entire town, province, or nation.
If we do not do this election right, we look back on it as another lost chance at real change. Let us not be apathetic. Let us all be active. Panalunin natin ang nararapat.
Let us show the ruling class that the power can be taken back by the people!
Salam Ate Ayie ^_^
ReplyDeleteGlad to read your writeups once again hehe.
As usual politicians will always find ways to go around the law -_- Same thing in my dear hometown (Sulu). Lawmakers are the usual lawbreakers. Let's say it's not the politician himself who ordered this but his supporters, but at least telling them to follow the law should have been done.
Let's see if things change 6 yrs from now. hmm
Alaikumisalaam Ahmad.
DeleteI think what that for us to see change, we have to act too. The politicians have to know e do not want the excessive number of tarps. Aside from they are an eyesore, they are environmentally harmful. I can only imagine how many tons of tarps will go into the dumpsites and will clog the gutters.
Moreover, the attitudes of he politicians from day 1 of campiagn period says a lot about what kind of leader they are. Personally, If a candidate have excessive posters placed in prohibited areas, I would be discouraged to vote for him. The impression is he has spent too much already, he would probably get back all he spent by getting some from public funds.
Comelec must really pay attention to this problem. Question is, who might have the balls to take down illegal campaign materials?
ReplyDeleteHow about the voters themselves starting a campaign against epals? We can't just sit here and wait for the COMELEC to do something. The citizens themselves should at least make it known that they are against this carnival of an election.
ReplyDelete