The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) revealed today that they have found more oversized campaign propaganda along major thoroughfares during the poll body’s monitoring of candidates’ compliance to campaign rules yesterday.

COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez said the team they dispatched saw and documented huge billboards and streamers of candidates Sen. Noynoy Aquino (Roxas Blvd. cor Vito Cruz); Gilbert Teodoro (EDSA Southbound); Joseph Estrada and Jejomar Binay (EDSA North Ave., PhilAm); Sen. Richard Gordon and Bayani Fernando (EDSA Cubao; and in Shell North Luzon Tollway, Brgy. Burol Balagtas, Bulacan); Sen. Manuel Villar and Sen. Lito Lapid (EDSA cor. Reliance st.) Atty. JV Bautista (EDSA near NEPA Q-Mart) and Rey Langit (in front of MMDA Office near EDSA Guadalupe).

Jimenez said his office has already endorsed all gathered photographic evidence to the poll body’s Law Department and the Regional Election Director concerned for appropriate action.

“We warn candidates to strictly adhere to campaign rules as enumerated in RA 9006 or the Fair Election Practices Act and its implementing Resolution, COMELEC Resolution 8758,” he said.

Jimenez said the law is “very clear” that candidates may only post their campaign materials in designated Common Poster Areas and that these materials should also follow the sizes determined by the COMELEC. Posters, according to Jimenez, should not exceed two (2’) feet by three (3’) feet while streamers should be no more than three (3’) feet by (8’) feet.

The COMELEC spokesman contended that some candidates’ explanation that it was their supporters who erected huge billboards thus they can not be sanctioned, “won’t fly.”

“They must be reminded that according to the implementing rules of RA 9006, a candidate will also be held liable for the violations committed by his supporter,” he said. Jimenez also added that candidates can not just put up a huge billboard outside his Headquarters. He said COMELEC Resolution 8758 states that a Headquarters Signboard should not exceed three (3’) feet by eight (8’) feet in size. ###