The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) began taking down tarpaulins, murals, and other election materials as part of their “Oplan Baklas” campaign last February 8, Tuesday.
According to COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez, the operation cracks down “campaign materials that are oversized and posted out of place.”
However, several groups and formations slammed the commission after armed forces tore down posters installed on private properties of volunteers and supporters. Critics raised that this is an attack on the constitutional right of people to their freedom of property, expression, and information.
And while tarps of the opposition tandem have been dismantled, some oversized posters of the BBM-Sara pair are still installed. The majority of the commission’s officials are handpicked by President Duterte.
In a joint statement, groups Lawyers Against Disinformation, Filipino American Human Rights Alliance, Sandigan ng Mag-aaral para sa Sambayanan, Now You Vote, and Women Lawyers for Leni asserted that Oplan Baklas is an “undemocratic and unconstitutional act”.
They also demanded that the commission “order its election officers and employees to cease and desist from illegally removing and confiscating campaign materials and paraphernalia owned, posted, and installed by private citizens and volunteers in their private property, such as those installed in volunteers’ headquarters.”
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) echoed the same sentiments. CEGP Deputy Secretary-General Regina Tolentino insisted that the recent takedowns show “clear subservience to the dictator bloodline.”
Tolentino likened Oplan Baklas to Martial Law wherein rights, freedom, and justice were stripped of among Filipinos.
It is remembered how the media was silenced during the dictatorship of the Marcoses. Dissent against the government was repressed and only the Marcos-controlled press was allowed to operate. Journalists and media personnel were relentlessly attacked and harassed, while the majority went underground by which the mosquito press movement ensued.
The Robredo-Pangilinan camp, which was affected by the operation, announced its plans to file for legal actions. Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno also urged COMELEC and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to revisit their rules.
Stark condemnation of the police’s abuse of their supposed responsibility to remove materials arose following subsequent photos and videos showing them tearing down materials on private property.
“Aside from being a violation of the people’s right to free elections, including freedom to support a candidate, the poll body is de facto violating its own election rules by using the police to strip off campaign materials targeting the camp of presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo,” Anakpawis president Ariel Casilao stated.
Diokno reminded the PNP that they are not allowed to enter private properties without a warrant. Forced entry can be subjected to civil cases for damages under the Civil Code, and administrative cases under Republic Act No. 6713. Rights violations.
PNP Public Information Office Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba claimed that complaints regarding the police’s encroaching acts can be filed through the COMELEC or the PNP.
VP Robredo’s election lawyer Atty. Romulo Macalintal advised supporters to hinder the COMELEC officials’ entry into their headquarters. However, Alba reiterated that their presence in conducting ‘Oplan Baklas’ is “really required.”
Furthermore, despite the backlash, Jimenez declared that Oplan Baklas will continue with no cease. As of recent updates, Spox Jimenez stated that they “are not averse in reviewing their rules again” as public clamor persists; yet he reiterated that there is no guarantee that rules will be modified.
Featured image by COMELEC
