Push Admin

Comelec insists on power to dismantle campaign materials in private properties

Article (news)

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo prepare to install campaign posters inside a tenement compound in Sta. Ana, Manila on February 8, 2022. The official campaign period for the May 9 national elections started on the same day, covering candidates for President, Vice President, Senator, and Party-list groups. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/tvpatrol/02/16/20220208-election-robredo-supporters-gc-13.jpg"/><figcaption>Supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo prepare to install campaign posters inside a tenement compound in Sta. Ana, Manila on February 8, 2022. The official campaign period for the May 9 national elections started on the same day, covering candidates for President, Vice President, Senator, and Party-list groups.<em> George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA (UPDATE) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is under fire Wednesday after several videos of its enforcers dismantling campaign materials in private properties went viral on social media, with some describing the incidents as &quot;trespassing&quot; and suppression of free speech.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Sa Santiago, Isabela to. Private property. Ano na? <a href="https://twitter.com/COMELEC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@COMELEC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jabjimenez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jabjimenez</a> <a href="https://t.co/WJOXvzFsb6">pic.twitter.com/WJOXvzFsb6</a></p>— PinoyAkoBlog (@PinoyAkoBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/PinoyAkoBlog/status/1493826184161153026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2022</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>In a tweet, former Comelec commissioner Rowena Guanzon said that if Comelec-affiliated enforcers enter private properties without permission to take down campaign materials, it should be considered &quot;trespassing.&quot;</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">If they enter private properry without permission then it is tresspassing . <a href="https://t.co/jJnFsjR9J9">https://t.co/jJnFsjR9J9</a></p>— Rowena Guanzon (@rowena_guanzon) <a href="https://twitter.com/rowena_guanzon/status/1493841426253111297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2022</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>During the day, Comelec&#x27;s Oplan Baklas personnel dismantled some tarpaulins displayed at a Robredo-Pangilinan volunteers&#x27; center in Quezon City. Supporters of Robredo argued that the area is a private property, outside the jurisdiction of Comelec. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">TINGNAN: Tinatanggal na ng Comelec at MMDA ang mga oversized campaign poster sa EDSA.<br/><br/>Bukod sa lagpas ang mga ito sa 2x3 ft, wala ito sa common poster areas.<br/><br/>Sinimulan ng ahensiya ang region-wide &#x27;Operation Baklas&#x27; sa Pasay at itutuloy hanggang sa Monumento | via <a href="https://twitter.com/annacerezo_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@annacerezo_</a> <a href="https://t.co/k4Hy6PhCFg">pic.twitter.com/k4Hy6PhCFg</a></p>— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews/status/1493746174943428610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2022</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Election lawyer Emil Marañon criticized the Comelec&#x27;s actions, even calling their enforcers &quot;thugs.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Entering private premises/spaces to retrieve posters is of course illegal without a search warrant. Comelec needs to police its ranks. Criminal and administrative cases should be filed against these thugs,&quot; Marañon said.</p><p>The lawyer added these incidents are &quot;worrisome.&quot;</p><p>&quot;The recurring reports of Comelec’s arbitrary and wanton removal of posters by private citizens in their private properties are worrisome. This is not only an election offense, but a clear suppression of the public’s right to free speech,&quot; Marañon added.</p><p>Another election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said Comelec should have given the private citizens some time to explain their side before taking down the allegedly violative campaign materials.</p><p>&quot;Mali at labag sa saligang batas na basta na lamang binabaklas ng Comelec ang mga campaign materials na ito na hindi binibigyan ng pagkakataon na marinig muna ang panig ng mga nagpost ng nasabing campaign posters,&quot; said Macalintal.</p><div><strong>COMELEC&#x27;S RULE</strong></div><p>In a press conference last Feb. 8, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez addressed the potential controversy, saying they have the authority to regulate campaign materials even in personal spaces. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Can the Comelec dismantle &amp; confiscate campaign materials even in your private property?<br/><br/>In a press conference last week, Comelec spokesman <a href="https://twitter.com/jabjimenez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jabjimenez</a> insists they have authority to do so.<br/><br/>Watch his explanation: <a href="https://t.co/3Y8ssGuBNJ">pic.twitter.com/3Y8ssGuBNJ</a></p>— J. Villaruel (@jauhnetienne) <a href="https://twitter.com/jauhnetienne/status/1493848235353407490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2022</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>&quot;Our rule is that even if you&#x27;re posting on private property, you cannot post in excess of the allowed sizes. You can post campaign materials in your personal property but you&#x27;re still going to have to abide by the size requirement,&quot; Jimenez said.</p><p>Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10730 or the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) of the Fair Elections Act, campaign posters should comply with the allowable size of 2ft x 3ft.</p><div><strong> WHAT THE SC SAID</strong></div><p>Jimenez also cited the ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) on the case of Diocese of Bacolod vs Comelec, which set the jurisprudence on non-candidates putting up campaign propaganda.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/01/21/15/sc-upholds-church-use-team-patay-tarps">SC nixes removal of &#x27;Team Patay, Team Buhay&#x27; tarps</a></li></ul><p>In its ruling, the SC stated that &quot;egulation of election paraphernalia will still be constitutionally valid if it reaches into speech of persons who are not candidates... only if what is regulated is declarative speech that, taken as a whole, has for its principal object the endorsement of a candidate only... For this purpose, it will not matter whether the speech is made with or on private property.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/16/16/team-patay-buhay-posters-placed-inside-museum">&#x27;Team Patay, Buhay&#x27; posters placed inside museum</a></li></ul><p>According to Jimenez, this is the basis for their Oplan Baklas operations even in private properties.</p><p>&quot;If the material has for its overall purpose simply the declaration of an endorsement of a candidate, then that can still be validly regulated. And so even though the Comelec allows the posting of [campaign] materials on private properties, it is still with the caveat that size requirements have to be adhered to,&quot; he said. </p><p>In a press conference Wednesday, Jimenez said those who feel aggrieved by Comelec&#x27;s restrictions on campaign materials should just file a complaint.</p><p>&quot;If anyone feels they have an action against Comelec, they must pursue that,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe __idm_id__="23437313" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1928970" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Election lawyer Emil Marañon criticized the Comelec's actions, even calling their enforcers 'thugs.'

Comelec insists on power to dismantle campaign materials in private properties

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Comelec insists on power to dismantle campaign materials in private properties

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 16, 2022 05:31 PM PHT

|

Updated Feb 16, 2022 07:20 PM PHT

Read More:

Comele

Commission on Elections

pandemic election

halalan2022

Halalan 2022

halalan

campaign

campaigning

campaign posters

James Jimenez

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.