eCOMELEC

14 MAY 2007 SENATOTIAL AND PARTY-LIST ELECTIONS

OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING

To : ALL MEMBERS,

        SPECIAL BOARD OF CANVASSERS, OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING

        ALL SENATORIAL CANDIDATES

        ALL POLITICAL PARTIES AND ACCREDITED CITIZENS’ ARM

        ALL PARTIES/ORGANIZATIONS/COALITIONS PARTICIPATING UNDER THE           PARTY-LIST SYSTEM

FROM : THE CHAIRMAN

SPECIAL BOARD OF CANVASSERS, OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING

THROUGH : COMMISSIONER FLORENTINO A. TUASON, JR.                                                                    Chairman, Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting

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Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Benjamin S. Abalos Sr., in a press conference this morning, gave local candidates nationwide one day (24 hours) to tear down and remove all campaign posters that are placed outside COMELEC designated Common Poster Areas or else face disqualification charges from the poll body.

“It seems that they have no respect for the law” said Abalos referring to local candidates whose posters and streamers are placed even on dangerous spots such as electric wires. Chairman Abalos said he personally saw some areas in Manila and in the 2^nd District of Quezon City that abound with illegal and misplaced campaign posters of local bets.

He called the attention of all Election Officers and COMELEC personnel in the field, the Philippine National Police and the Baranggay Officials whom he said appears to be “neglectful” of their duties to enforce election laws especially concerning lawful election propaganda.

The COMELEC Chairman likewise ordered Police Chiefs to explain in 24 hours why they should not be reassigned for failing to implement campaign poster rules. He added that Baranggay Captains also has 24 hours to explain why they should not face administrative charges.

Abalos said he will be meeting with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno today to ask the DILG to initiate charges against slack police chiefs and Baranggay officials.

Abalos, however said civilians and community associations can tear down and remove illegally placed posters in their area.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) today encouraged activist groups to file a formal complaint before them so the poll body may be able to act on the allegations that government funds are used to bankroll the campaign of some party-list groups.

Late last week activist groups presented to the media a copy of an allegedly confidential memorandum to the President from Malacañan’s Office of External Affairs (OEA) that seeks funding for some party-list groups that are participating in this year’s election.

COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos said the poll body can not investigate the matter ‘motu propio’ simply because no body has filed a complaint yet.

“A complaint has to be filed before us so we can act” he said.   

Abalos however said that government funds can not be used to support any party-list group or candidate.

Meanwhile, Abalos said Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento will be traveling to Sulu to study the possibility of placing the province under COMELEC control after a resurgence of violence there.

He said Sarmiento’s trip aims “to determine the number of polling precincts that are affected and how to relocate the voting centers so voters won’t be disenfranchised.”