BONTOC, Mountain Province – A total of 2,132 election materials that were unlawfully posted on trees, electric posts, and outside of common posting areas were removed during the second simultaneous “Baklas” Operations on April 19, 2022, within the municipality, as announced by Election Officer Atty. Joyce Marie Dango during the regular Monday Flag Raising Ceremony at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol ground on April 25, 2022.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) strictly prohibits the posting of campaign materials on public places and conveyances such as on trees, light posts, electrical wires, schools, waiting sheds, sidewalks, bridges, health centers, public structures, public utility buses, public utility jeepneys, and tricycles.
Dango clarified that they did not implement “Operation Baklas” of campaign materials posted on private properties, such as houses, however, she reminded that posting campaign materials on private property must be with the consent of the owner and in adherence to the prescribed size.
As provided in Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Election Act, posters should measure two feet by three feet, leaflets and pamphlets should measure 8.5 x 14 inches, and streamers should be three feet by eight feet. In addition, candidates have to include the name of the individual/s that paid or donated the said campaign materials.
In a separate interview, Election Assistant Officer Milton Fillag remarked the operation covered the three main entry points of the municipality with three separate teams conducting the Operation Baklas from Gonogon-Poblacion, Tocucan-Poblacion, and Mount Polis-Poblacion.
The team is composed of the personnel of the Office of the Election Officer, Bontoc Municipal Police Station, Philippine Army, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, and Department of Public Works and Highways.
Meanwhile, Dango mentioned that the list of voters and their respective precinct numbers are posted on the bulletin board at the COMELEC Office located at the Mezzanine of the Municipal Capitol or the voting public can access COMELEC Online Precinct Finder at https://voterverifier.comelec.gov.ph/voter_precinct.
Further, the final testing and Sealing (FTS) of the Vote Counting Machines (VCM) will be held at 1:00 P.M. will be done on May 6, 2022, at the designated polling places.