‘Operation Baklas’ set Sunday
The Commission on Elections 6 will lead the Operation Baklas on Sunday to remove campaign materials a day before the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Election Regional Director Dennis Ausan said the campaign period is only until October 23 so campaigning is already prohibited from Sunday up to the entire election day on Monday.
“We will be breaking traditions here, we will have Operation Baklas on Sunday. Despite the hectic schedule of our field people, we can start at the voting centers,” he said.
Ausan said posting of campaign materials in voting centers is strictly prohibited, but he acknowledged that there might be some resistance.
“For several elections already, it has been practiced so I advised our policemen and military to just remind them (candidates or their people) of what they violated,” he said.
If they refuse to heed the reminder, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces have all the reasons to arrest them, he added.
Candidates are also advised against using minors in their campaign.
Ausan said the violation is considered an election offense, just like the gun ban and the liquor ban, which carries an imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than six years.*
