EVERY election season, whether presidential or mid-term, we hear echoes of alleged violations of the rules writ in bold on the template of the Commission on Elections, the government’s poll watchdog.
The run up to the mid-term election on May 12 has been no exception, with well meaning groups, like the EcoWaste Coalition calling on candidates, not only in Metro Manila but elsewhere in the country, to “spare trees” from posters and other campaign materials.
The Comelec model stipulates that campaign materials must only be posted in designated “common poster areas” – which means violators could face penalties, including imprisonment for six months to two years or fines ranging from P500 to P5,000, and perpetual disqualification from public service.
Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability Executive Director Mark Peñalver himself said “Nailing, pinning and stapling campaign banners and posters on trees can cause stress and harm to these irreplaceable partners in making our communities healthy, livable and sustainable… Harm not the trees. Nurture and protect them instead.”
With less than two months to election day, we join groups in asking candidates and their supporters to abide by ecological and legal practices and save the trees and the environment from abuse and disrespect.
EcoWaste Coalition Coordinator Aileen Lucero has been spot-on when she said, in a flourishing statement we endorse, “Torture not the trees. Please keep them banner- and poster-free.”
We also ask the candidates to be tough on their followers, be rigid with them and heed the Comelec guidelines to make the mid-term exercise environmentally caring as far wide as possible.
We are familiar with the Filipino culture that is rather negative and not at all laudatory, but we pause and call, yet again under the din of political slogans in broadcast and elsewhere, that under Comelec Resolution 11086, candidates who violate the watchdog’s resolutions would be prosecuted under RA 3571.
Based on Comelec Resolution 11086, on Dec. 9 last year, candidates and political parties have 72 hours before the start of the campaign period to remove all prohibited election propaganda like names, images, logos, brands, initials, and graphical representations on all public structures and places.
The campaign period, including the 45 days given to local candidates to woo voters starting March 28, will end on May 10, but the Comelec has stressed that election campaigns will be prohibited on April 17 (Maundy Thursday), April 18 (Good Friday), May 11 (eve of the election), and May 12 (day of the election).
Let’s not turn a blind eye to the shameless violations by candidates and their followers.
Let’s go beyond reminding them what the law says, which may be good to excite a bold headline.
Give the violators the book.
