36 erring partylist groups face disqualification

National

AT LEAST 36 party-list organizations are in danger of being disqualified from this year’s midterm elections for violating rules on campaign posters.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said notices have been issued to the 36 party-list groups, which were ordered to immediately remove their illegal campaign posters.

“We ordered their campaign materials removed nationwide,” Garcia said in a Philippine Star report.

According to Garcia, the 36 organizations violated the regulations on the size of campaign posters and use of environment-friendly materials.

Some of the party-list groups also placed their campaign posters in prohibited areas, Garcia added.

Garcia said the issuance of notices to candidates, party-list groups and political parties found violating rules on campaign posters will be done on a daily basis.

“We will issue notices to remove illegal campaign posters in three days. Otherwise we will file a disqualification case against them,” he said.

The Comelec reminded that violating rules on campaign posters is considered an election offense that may lead to filing of criminal cases.(Mary Grace Fegarido, USJ-R Intern)