The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Antique on Monday gave local candidates three days to voluntarily remove illegal or oversized campaign posters or face possible charges for violating Republic Act 9006, also known as the Fair Elections Act.
Comelec-Western Visayas Acting Assistant Director and concurrent Provincial Election Supervisor Wil Arceño said Monday several candidates failed to comply with previous reminders issued after the second week of the local campaign period.
“I’m sending notices to candidates instructing them to take down their non-compliant posters within three days, or we will endorse their names to our Legal Division for possible election offense charges,” Arceño warned.
From March 28 to April 3, the Comelec-Antique dismantled 6,068 oversized posters or exceeding the 2×3 feet size limit and those outside common poster areas
Arceño said they will continue weekly “Operation Baklas” (take down) drives and confiscated materials will be used as evidence.
The Comelec also appealed to candidates to lower the volume of their mobile sound systems and to limit campaign rounds to reasonable hours, citing complaints from residents, especially those with medical conditions
“This sound system setup is unique to Antique. Other provinces in Western Visayas don’t have this,” Arceño said. (PNA)
