THREATS and cuss words have been thrown at election officers by candidates for the May 13 election but they are standing firm on the implementation of “Oplan Baklas” where illegal campaign materials are torn down and confiscated.

Lawyer Marino Salas, provincial election supervisor, said Commission on Elections (Comelec) officers, including himself, have been receiving phone calls from candidates and their supporters threatening to file cases against them for allegedly violating their rights to campaign.

Salas, in an interview, said some candidates even berate and cuss them, but said he is unfazed and his office is ready to face any complaint and will continue to take down illegal materials.

Salas said he understands the outbursts of some candidates considering the cost of the campaign materials but he stressed that the Comelec has a mandate to perform – to remove campaign posters located outside the authorized common poster areas and campaign paraphernalia that exceed the authorized sizes.

He also pointed out that the Comelec reminded candidates about the campaign rules through letters before the start of the campaign period and prior to the actual implementation of Oplan Baklas.

Meanwhile, he advised his election officers and staff to apply maximum tolerance when dealing with violent reactions from candidates.

All the confiscated illegal campaign paraphernalia were deposited in police stations and will only be returned to the candidates after the election.

At the same time, Salas said the Comelec provincial office is now 90 percent ready for the election even as they continue with their voter’s education in every barangay.

Salas also announced that at least 783 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines already arrived last April 15 in Dagupan and Urdaneta cities, two of three designated holding areas in Pangasinan.–Dada Austria

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