Mandaue Comelec set to tear down illegally placed posters

Campaign posters of Mandaue City candidates are placed in an area at the Mandaue City Plaza, which is one of Comelec’s designated poster areas in the city. (CONTRIBUTED/MANDAUE PIO)

NEW Mandaue City Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde will lead next week’s Oplan Baklas, the election office’s initiative to remove campaign posters of candidates not posted in the Comelec’s poster designated areas.

Lawyer Ann Fleur Gujilde, who was replaced by her husband, former Cebu Provincial election officer Ferdinand Gujilde as the new Mandaue Election officer  (see separate story), said the activity will be done together with the  Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7.

Ann Fleur Gujilde was transferred to the City of Naga where she will be the election officer.

Ann Fleur Gujilde said they are expecting Oplan Baklas to be implemented on April 5.

She, however, said that this will depend on the availability of the DPWH schedule.

She said that last March, they tore down some national campaign materials, which were illegally posted around the city.

This time they will target the local campaign materials.

Sought for comment, Mandaue City Councilor Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon, who is vying for the mayor’s seat in the city under One Cebu party, said that she supports the operation of the Comelec.

“We respect the Comelec and we support its initiatives for a clean and orderly elections,” Ouano-Dizon said

Ann Fleur Gujilde said the campaign materials should be in the vicinity or surrounding area of public places like barangay halls and public market. but not in the barangay hall or public market itself, and with available space.

The designated poster areas include those in front of National Telecommunications Commission compound in Barangay Subangdaku, the area in front of Rizal-Bonifacio stage along the corner Catalino Ouano and S.B. Cabahug streets in Barangay Centro, the vacant space along the national highway between Jagobiao National High School, the vacant space near the Nursery corner national road and Rizal St. in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia, the area in front of Mandaue City Cultural Center and Sports Center, the corner in M.C. Briones and Lopez Jaena St. in Barnagay Tipolo, the corner along Soriano Ave. and Ouano Ave. in Barangay Guizo, and the corner in A.C. Cortes and S.B. Cabahug St. in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia.