Six senatorial candidates have been issued a show-cause order by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for violating election laws on the placement of their campaign posters and ordered them to remove them or risk disqualification.
Poll chairman George Garcia said these materials were illegally placed or not eco-friendly, with some even nailed to trees, some were oversized—sparking public outrage.
However, the Comelec chief did not identify the six senatorial bets, saying several other bets seeking national posts will be issued notices.
Meanwhile, environmental advocate Ronald Posadas warned that nailing posters to trees can cause decay.
“The nail might carry mold or bacteria. When you nail it, that’s where the decay starts,” he said.
While the Comelec will not impose any fines on this, Garcia said that improperly posting these campaign materials constitutes a breach of Comelec’s regulations, and any violation of these rules is considered not only an electoral offense but also a basis for disqualification.
Garcia said that candidate posters must be displayed solely in authorized locations and not on public buildings or educational institutions.
All senatorial candidates have been instructed to remove any unauthorized materials, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) responsible for addressing any breaches of environmental laws, he said.
The Comelec has called on candidates to adhere to election regulations and to refrain from damaging trees during their campaign activities.