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Friday, March 19, 2010

Comelec readies 1,700 generator sets

Source: Manila Bulletin
Almost all bets violating campaign poster rules
By LESLIE ANN AQUINO
March 20, 2010, 10:58am

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is preparing more than 1,700 generator sets (gensets) for the May 10 national and local elections because of the power crisis.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said the generator sets will be allocated to various canvassing centers.

“Our canvassing centers are around 1,631 but we have more than 1,700 generator sets,” he told reporters in an interview.

Jimenez said canvassing centers will be provided with gensets, adding that Comelec does not believe these are needed at poll precincts which will be provided with emergency lighting kits.

“At this point, I cannot say that we have gensets for the precincts nor can I accept that gensets are absolutely essential at the precinct level,” he said.

“Again this is because the (Precinct Count Optical Scan) machines run on independent power,” said Jimenez.

According to Comelec, PCOS machines are equipped with a battery that could last up to 16 hours.

Jimenez said emergency lighting is also part of the kit of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs).

“If it’s dark, part of the kit of the BEIs is emergency lighting. We have flashlights for our BEIs, watchers,” he said.

Meanwhile, more and more national candidates are violating the rules on campaign propaganda, said Jimenez.

He said almost all of the national candidates have violated the rules for campaign propaganda.

“Some in fact are those that we would not expect normally since they are very staunch advocates of obeying the law,” he said.

Among the national candidates that the Comelec found to have oversized campaign propaganda along major thoroughfares are Senator Benigno Noynoy Aquino III of Liberal Party (on Roxas Blvd. cor Vito Cruz); Gilbert Teodoro of Lakas-Kampi (EDSA Southbound); Joseph Estrada and Jejomar Binay of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (EDSA North Ave., PhilAm); Sen. Richard Gordon and Bayani Fernando of Bagumbayan (EDSA Cubao; and in Shell North Luzon Tollway, Barangay Burol, Balagtas, Bulacan); Sen. Manuel Villar of Nacionalista Party, Sen. Lito Lapid of Lakas-Kampi, (EDSA cor. Reliance st.), JV Bautista (EDSA near NEPA Q-Mart), and Rey Langit of Lakas-Kampi (in front of MMDA Office near EDSA Guadalupe).

Jimenez said the law is “very clear” that candidates may only post their campaign materials in designated Common Poster Areas and that these materials should not exceed two feet by three feet while streamers should be no larger than three feet by eight feet.

Candidates, he said, cannot also put up a huge billboard outside their Headquarters, citing Comelec Resolution 8758 which states that a Headquarters Signboard should not exceed three feet by eight feet in size.

“We warn candidates to strictly adhere to campaign rules as enumerated in RA 9006 or the Fair Election Practices Act and its implementing Resolution, Comelec Resolution 8758,” said Jimenez.

The candidates can’t use the excuse that it’s their supporters who erected the huge billboards and they shouldn’t be sanctioned, he said.

“They must be reminded that according to the implementing rules of Republic Act 9006, a candidate will also be held liable for the violations committed by his supporter,” Jimenez said.

The Comelec’s Education and Information Department (EID) already endorsed all gathered photographic evidence to their Law Department and the Regional Election Director concerned for appropriate action.

“As far as my department is concerned we are merely recording and monitoring the state of compliance of these candidates. As you can see the state of compliance is rather dismal,” said Jimenez.

An election offense carries a penalty of one to six years imprisonment as well as the removal of the right to vote and be voted.

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