Another government department has it out for those pesky campaign posters.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) today instructed officials of local governments to remove all campaign materials from government-owned facilities and properties, including vehicles.
In a statement that was posted on the department’s official website, DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said this was done because they don’t want to allow candidates to use government properties for their campaign.
“It’s clearly prohibited,” he said. “Government buildings, properties, vehicles, and equipment are for official use only and may not be used as venues or tools for partisan political activity.”
The Omnibus Election Code Section 261 Letter O prohibits “the use of facilities owned or controlled by the government for an election campaign.”
Año said that local government officials who allow government properties to be used for this year’s election campaigns will be immediately reported to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
Last week, the COMELEC told candidates to remove prohibited campaign materials that violate election laws. These include those that are put up outside common poster areas, in public places, and in private properties without the owner’s consent.
COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon even went so far as to release a list of senatorial candidates who had illegal posters, but it created a stir online when netizens noticed that the list didn’t include government-backed candidates Ronald de la Rosa, Imee Marcos, and Christopher “Bong” Go.
Guanzon clarified that the list only included candidates with addresses in the National Capital Region and that a Davao-assigned COMELEC official will send a notice to Go. However, Guanzon didn’t say anything about de la Rosa or Marcos.
Meanwhile, the DILG also reminded local government employees that they cannot endorse or promote candidates running in the elections. However, local elective officials are exempt from the ban due to the political nature of their positions.
Said Año: “Civil service personnel are tasked to serve our country with integrity and neutrality. It’s none of our business to influence public opinion on poll bets. Let’s just do our jobs and respect the people’s ability to make informed decisions during the May elections.”
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