Progressive partylist groups Suara, Bayan Muna, Kabataan, Gabriela and Anakpawis have likewise complained about the destruction of their campaign posters in Comelec-designated areas designated in Tagum, Davao del Norte. They found it suspicious that their posters were singled out.
Kabataan Partylist claimed that in some areas of Davao City, some of their posters have been defaced and destroyed while the posters of other partylist groups were left untouched.
Tagged. These Lumad leaders denounce the military’s policy of tagging progressive and partylist groups as communist fronts. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)
Unso said the Comelec cannot be blamed for this. “They say it’s the military but who knows?” he asked. “But the Comelec will not destroy their posters if these are in the right areas.”
He said the Comelec carries out the Operation Baklas program — the removal of campaign posters in places that are not officially designated — regardless of the political affiliations of violators.
“We dismantle and deface all political campaign materials we find in the wrong the places,” Unso said. “If these candidates and group cannot follow the rules, then their posters will be dismantled.”
Under the Fair Elections Act of 2000, also known as “an act to enhance the holding of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections through fair elections practices,” the Comelec is authorized to designate common poster areas for political parties and party-list groups running for the elections.
Comelec also regulates the number and the size of these common poster areas, where candidates may post their campaign materials.
Under the rules, candidates are also allowed to post lawful propaganda materials in private places as long as these have the consent of the owner and in public places allocated equitably among the candidates by the Comelec. In Davao city, the Comelec has designated one common posters area in every barangay.
But for Suara Partylist, the marginalization of partylist groups is deliberate. “We were told by our Davao del Norte chapters that the military have been giving instructions to village officials to destroy our posters,” Uy said. “It’s happening now and incidents like these will not stop right away.
He said the Fair Election Act provides that the state shall ensure that candidates for any public office shall be free from any form of harassment and discrimination and ensure equal opportunity for public service, including access to media time and space. “But with what’s happening now, we are expecting the worst,” Uy said. (Jeffrey Tupaz/davaotoday.com)
2007 Elections
