Comelec Asks Candidates To Remove Propaganda Materials Three Days Before Feb. 9 Start Of Campaign Period

Candidates in the May 9 national and local polls are reminded by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to remove their prohibited propaganda materials three days before Feb. 9, the start of the campaign period for national positions.

According to Comelec Resolution No. 10049 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Fair Elections Act for the May 2016 polls, it is mandatory that all prohibited campaign materials are removed 72 hours before the start of the campaign period.

“All prohibited forms of election propaganda as described in Section 7 of these Rules shall be removed or caused to be removed by said candidate or political party at least 72 hours before the start of the campaign period,” it said.

Those responsible for the prohibited campaign paraphernalia will be held liable if such propaganda materials are not removed.

“Otherwise, the said candidate or party shall be presumed to have committed the pertinent election offense during said campaign period for national or for local candidates, as the case may be,” the resolution added.

Prohibited forms of election propaganda materials include newspaper, newsletter, newsweekly, gazette or magazine advertising, pamphlet, leaflet, card, decal, bumper sticker, poster, comic book, circular, handbill, streamer, sample list of candidates or any published or printed political matter and 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 IRR said that all campaign materials donated for a particular candidate cannot be printed, published, or broadcasted unless they are accompanied by a written acceptance by the said candidate or party.

It is also illegal to post, display, or exhibit any election campaign or propaganda material outside of authorized common poster areas, in public places, or in private properties without the consent of the owner.

Public places include electronic announcement boards, such as LED display boards located along highways and streets, and LCD TV displays posted on walls of public buildings; motor vehicles used as patrol cars, ambulances, and for other similar purposes that are owned by local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations; waiting sheds, sidewalks, street and lamp posts, electric posts and wires, traffic signages and other signboards erected on public property, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers, and underpasses, bridges, main thoroughfares, center islands of roads and highways; schools, shrines, barangay halls, health centers, public structures and buildings or any edifice; public transport vehicles owned and controlled by the government, such as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Philippine National Railways (PNR) trains; and within the premises of public transport terminals, such as bus terminals, airports, seaports, docks, piers, train stations, that are owned and controlled by the government.

It noted that violations constitute an election offense, which carries the penalty of one to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and disqualification from holding public office.

On the other hand, the Comelec allows political parties and independent candidates to put up their own common poster areas aside from those designated by the local election officers (EOs).

“Each party and independent candidate, with prior consent from the Comelec, may put up common poster areas in every barangay,” the resolution said.

There will be one common poster area per 5,000 registered voters or less, and an additional one for every additional of 5,000 voters or a fraction of it. The size of the common poster areas for political parties and party-list groups shall be no bigger than 12 feet by 16 feet; while independent candidates may put up 4 feet by 6 feet.

“The common poster areas allocated to parties and independent candidates shall not be used by other parties and independent candidates even with the consent of the former,” the poll body said.

Designated as common poster areas include 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.

The IRR also states that candidates and registered political parties for a national elective position are allowed not more than a total of 120 minutes of television advertising, on a per station basis, whether appearing on national, regional, or local, free or cable television, and 180 minutes of radio advertising, on a per station basis, whether airing on national, regional, or local radio, whether by purchase or donation.

As for candidates and registered political parties for a local elective position, they are allowed to have not more than a total of 60 minutes of television advertising, on a per station basis, whether appearing on national, regional, or local, free or cable television, and 90 minutes of radio advertising, on a per station basis, whether airing on national, regional, or local radio, whether by purchase or donation.

On the other hand, campaigning is not allowed on March 24 (Maundy Thursday), March 25 (Good Friday), May 8 (Eve of Election Day) and May 9 (Election Day).

The campaign period for local bets is from March 25 to May 7. (PNA) SCS/FGP/SSC