The camp of presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo is considering legal actions against the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for its removal of election-related posters and tarpaulins in private properties as part of the so-called ‘Oplan Baklas’.
Several videos showed that Comelec and law enforcement officers entered private premises and removed posters in compliance with the Oplan Baklas.
Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said: “As a lawyer, as isang public servant na talagang mahalagang-mahalaga sa kaniya iyong exercise ng karapatan ng bawat mamamayan, lalo na nitong freedom of speech, malalim iyong kaniyang concern.”
“Mula simula, sinasabi nating people’s campaign ito, ibig sabihin hindi lang iyong mga tradisyunal na bahagi ng kampanya, kundi mga volunteers, kumikilos, nagse-self fund, nagse-self initiate ng kani-kanilang mga pagkilos. Iyong ganitong klaseng aksyon ng Comelec, parang may pagpigil nun,” he added.
The camp appealed to the poll body to revisit its rules on election propaganda materials.
“Balikan nila itong polisiyang ito dahil mukhang malinaw itong paglabag sa ating konstitusyon at sa batas,” he said.
“At kung kinakailangan, pinag-aaralan sa kasalukuyan kung posibleng mag-file ng karapat-dapat na kaso para maging mas klaro ‘yong rule dito sa issue na ‘to,” Gutierrez added.
