THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) cannot remove campaign materials placed on private property, City Comelec Officer Atty. Ramil Acol said Saturday, March 29.

Comelec launched “Oplan Baklas” on Friday, March 28, to remove campaign materials that do not comply with election guidelines in the city’s 1st and 2nd districts.

Acol said that in the 2nd District, officials took down tarpaulins from national, party-list, and local candidates that violated regulations.

“Ubay-ubay gyud sa District 2, daghan toa, natabangan namo,” Acol said.

‘OPLAN BAKLAS.’ Cagayan de Oro City Comelec Officer Atty. Ramil Acol explains on Saturday, March 29, that some campaign materials remain in place despite “Oplan Baklas” operations, as they are located on private property and beyond Comelec’s jurisdiction. This comes after concerns were raised about tarpaulins that do not comply with election guidelines. Photo by Shiela Mae Butlig

However, he clarified that materials posted on private property are beyond Comelec’s jurisdiction.

“Naay nag-ingon nganong gilaktawan namo, naa man gyud naa sa koral, sa private property, mga tindahan, private property na,” Acol explained.

Property owners have the right to allow campaign materials to be posted on their premises, he added. Even oversized tarpaulins cannot be removed if they are on private property.

“Sa private property, i-notify man namo na, pero remember nga naa pa mi pending nga kaso nga gi-TRO pa sa mga private property nga mga posting, naa pay pending case during sa last election pa na,” Acol said.

“Dili mo motandog basta-basta sa mga private property,” he added.

Comelec continues to monitor and enforce election guidelines while respecting legal limitations on campaign material removal.