THE Commission on Elections-Davao Region (Comelec-Davao) announced on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, that it will intensify its “Operation Baklas” campaign by taking stronger actions, including filing charges against candidates who fail to follow the rules on campaign materials.
Lawyer Gay Enumerables, assistant regional director of Comelec-Davao, highlighted during the Davao Peace and Security Press Briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel that candidates who disregard the regulations could face legal consequences.
Enumerables explained that the campaign period for national positions had already started, along with the election period restrictions. Meanwhile, for the local candidates, the campaign period will begin on March 28, this year.
Enumerables said the operation will focus on removing illegally posted materials, including those displayed outside designated areas such as trees, utility poles, and public structures, as well as posters exceeding the 2x3 feet size limit.
Since the election period started on January 12, the official stated that their agency and the police have held regional security meetings at the Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao) earlier this month, which led to several arrests for violations related to firearms and the gun ban.
Enumerables also noted that the kickoff for Operation Baklas had been successful, with participation from agencies such as the regional offices of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), among others.
Despite the success, she pointed out that the operation was particularly effective in Davao City, where numerous illegal materials were removed.
Enumerables revealed that Comelec-Davao plans to take a more aggressive approach in the coming weeks.
She added that after the three-day deadline, a show-cause order will be issued, and legal cases will be prepared against violators.
“In the coming weeks, our chairman wants us to be very aggressive regarding campaign materials,” Enumerables explained.
“The plan is to send out notices to remove illegally posted campaign materials, especially those on posts. Those given notice will have three days to remove the materials. If they don’t remove them, we have a Special Task Force for illegally posted campaign materials – a Special Task Force Baklas,” she concluded. DEF
