MISAMIS ORIENTAL — The Provincial Office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), here, intensifies ‘Operation Baklas,’ targeting disallowed political materials, as the local campaign kicked off Friday, 28 March.

Lawyer Carlito Ravelo, provincial election supervisor, issued the directive to operate, alongside personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The Provincial Election Supervisor’s Office told the DAILY TRIBUNE that the directive has been issued to 27 Election Offices in various municipalities, and three cities in the province to enforce ‘Operation Baklas’ and proper designation of Common Poster Areas, where individual posters must not exceed 2 feet x 3 feet. 

The Comelec has been reiterating its call for both national and local aspirants to remove their prohibited campaign materials, emphasizing that campaign posters, banners, and other election-related materials must comply with the rules set forth by relevant election laws, including the Omnibus Election Code and Republic Act No. 9006 and the Fair Election Act.

Apart from “Operation Baklas,” the Comelec is also strictly monitoring ‘Kontra Bigay’ activities in the province.

The Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor, here, accounts for eight candidates vying for House of Representatives, three for governor, three for vice-governor, 18 for provincial board, 60 for mayor, 33 for vice-mayor, and 483 for city/municipal council.

At least, three municipalities in this province are listed with unopposed mayoralty or vice-mayoralty contenders. These are Initao town (one mayoralty and one vice-mayoralty candidate only), Libertad town (one vice-mayoralty candidate only), and El Salvador City (one vice-mayoralty candidate only).

Earlier, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia has issued reminders to local bets, urging them to abide by the guidelines set by the poll body for the safe and successful conduct of the upcoming midterm elections.