One presidential aspirant says it's 'unfair' to remove campaign posters on private property; another candidate says the Comelec should revisit its rules. PHVote WeDecide
MANILA, Philippines – Some presidential aspirants for the 2022 elections weighed in on the Commission on Elections’ controversial removal of alleged oversized campaign posters inside private property.
“If I put a cannon on my private property, then you can go after me or the property owner. But with a harmless tarpaulin? I think they should revisit [their rules],” he added. While “Oplan Baklas” activities in Metro Manila on Wednesday, February 16, also showed personnel taking down oversized campaign posters of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and senator Manny Pacquiao, Robredo’s camp has been the most vocal about what they called the “unconstitutional” removal of tarpaulins.the Comelec took down posters of the presidential candidate and her running mate Francis Pangilinan in Quezon City, Santiago City, and Zamboanga City, without prior notice to the volunteers.
The Supreme Court ruled that limiting the maximum size of the tarpaulin would “render ineffective petitioners’ message and violate their right to exercise freedom of expression.”