Campaign Posters 101: Diba Bawal Yan?

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:

1. Plazas 
2. Markets
3. Barangay centers 
4. 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:

1. Publicly-owned electronic billboards
2. Motor vehicles used as patrol cars or ambulances
3. Government-controlled public transits such as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Philippine National Railways (PNR)
4. Main thoroughfares, waiting sheds, sidewalks
5. Lamp posts, electric posts and wires
6. Street signages
7. Schools and barangay halls
8. Public transport terminals 
9. Waiting sheds
10. Pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers, and underpasses, 
11. Bridges
12. Center islands of roads and highways
13. Schools
14.  Shrines
15.  Barangay halls
16.  Health centers
17.  Public structures and buildings or any edifice; 
18. Terminals
19. Trees, plants, and private or public places outside the designated areas.

By now, we can already see how many have violated the COMELEC rules.

Moreover, the following are prohibited forms of election propaganda materials:

1. Newspaper, newsletter, newsweekly, gazette or magazine advertising
2. Pamphlet, leaflet, card, 
3. Decal, bumper sticker
4. Comic book, circular, handbill, streamer, sample list of candidates, or any published or printed political matter 
5. 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. 

The more important question is what is the punishment for offenders and what can we do to help the COMELEC run after them?

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!