Comelec to shame ‘Epal’ candidates

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday cautioned politicians again against premature campaigning, saying “Epal” candidates were risking lawsuits for their campaign materials, and would be subjected to a shame campaign.

City elections officer Palmer Palamine revealed that the Comelec would soon carry out a “shame campaign” against politicians seen to have violated Comelec Resolution no. 10049 and the Fair Elections Act.

Comelec would mark the unlawful campaign materials and inform the public that the erring politicians concerned violated election rules.

“Magsugod na ang campaign for national candidates by Feb. 9, and we were told by the Comelec central office to clean all streets and keep undesignated areas free from campaign materials,” Palamine said.

He cited Comelec Resolution no. 10049 that premature campaign materials should be removed or caused to be removed by candidates or their parties at least 72 hours before the start of the campaign period.

He said this means candidates should remove all forms of propaganda materials by weekend.

If not, he said, they would be “presumed to have committed the pertinent election offense during said campaign period.”

Palamine said posting of materials on private properties without the consent of the owners is also illegal.

He said candidates, including incumbent officials, cannot place their photos and names on Department of Public Works and Highways’ project billboards.

“Unlawful election materials constitute an election offense punishable with up to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote and lifetime disqualification from holding public office. Kinahanglan nga walay mamintaha sa kampanya. We have a lot of deserving candidates but they lack funds, mao nga kinahanglan dungan ang tanan,” he said.

The Comelec prohibits forms of propaganda like names, images, logos, brands, insignias, color motif, initials and other forms of identifiable graphical representations on any public structure or place, and trees, plants and other places outside common poster areas designated by the Commission.

“Kung makita namo nga adunay kalapasan, pwede silang mga kandidato nga mag-atubang og disqualification cases,” Palamine said.