FRUSTRATED by the seeming endless proliferation of illegally placed and over-sized campaign materials in almost every nook and cranny of Pangasinan, Provincial Elections Officer Alipio Alonzo Castillo III considers the removal of illegal campaign materials as distraction to the work of his office.

On the launching of Oplan Baklas, Castillo said: “Hindi naman kami lalabas everyday or every week just to remove the campaign materials”.

Dagupan City Elections Officer Ericson Oganiza admitted that no one was charged in the past for illegally installing illegal campaign materials in unauthorized areas because no one was caught en flagrante delicto installing the same.

The task force will initially target illegal campaign materials of national candidates. It will conduct another operation soon as the campaign period of local candidates shall have started.

Reacting the the editorials of THE PUNCH in its February 17 to 23 issue entitled “Daring Comelec in its Face” and “Useless Comelec rules,” Castillo maintained Comelec has equally more important things to do other than tearing down tarpaulins, like training of teachers who will man the voting centers and that there is limited time available.

“Umikot kayo even sa labas ng Malacanang, ang daming nakalatag na tarpaulin. Punta ka sa Pasay, sa Quezon City, mas madami pa doon,” he said.

“What shall we do? Ibabalik ko ito sa mga kandidato at opisyal ng gobyerno. Kung simpleng batas na kanila ring ginawa ay hindi nila kayang sundin, saan kami lalagay?” he added.

“Hindi porket ginagawa ng lahat ang mali ay nagiging tama. Hindi porket ginagawa ngilan maski mali ay tama”.

He said the poll body has limited number of personnel and they have far more important things to do everyday instead of removing illegal campaign materials.

Castillo stressed that Comelec will not spend to remove names of candidates painted in fences and walls in Dagupan but he expects these to be removed in time.

Asked by Provincial Environment and Natural Officer Raymundo Gayo what can the task force do if tarpaulins removed are promptly replaced by violators, Castillo could only say,: “That’s true”. (Leonardo Micua)

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