Poll body to remove illegally posted election propaganda materials

DAVAO CITY, February 22 (PIA) An official of the Commission on Elections in Davao Region warned they will conduct clean up on the city thoroughfares to remove local campaign materials posted on trees and line posts.

Atty. Marlon Casquejo, assistant director of the Comelec XI said election propaganda materials must be seen only on designated poster areas.

He said the poll body will start the removing of election propaganda materials first from the national roads and will go on towards the city, town and provincial roads.

Casquejo said posting on non-designated areas like trees and posts, oversized tarpaulins are already violations of election rules.

“We have entrusted this job to the personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways to remove everything as  long as they are posted on trees and electric posts,” he said.

Casquejo said all parties are already informed of the location of the common poster areas in the city.

He said local poster areas are located at the barangay halls with vacant space, but not the barangay hall building in itself.

Casquejo said the barangay gymnasium can also be used as a common poster area.

He said the poll body is careful not to tinker political posters in private property paying respect to the right to private property.

“However, we can sue the owner of the house if the political propaganda material is oversized,” Caquejo pointed out.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)