Operation Baklas continues in Pangasinan
A TEAM from the Commission on Elections, police, the city engineering office and an election watchdog partner tore down and removed over-sized and illegally posted campaign paraphernalia of candidates along main streets in Dagupan.
It was the second “Operation Baklas” launched in Dagupan since the campaign period for local candidates began March 26 this year in line with the directive of Acting Provincial Elections Supervisor Joel Gines.
Atty. Nathaniel Siaden (inset), Dagupan City Comelec Officer, leads Operation Baklas in the city backed by deputized policemen and DPWH personnel in removing oversized campaign posters mailed to electric posts and in other unauthorized places outside of designated common poster areas. (Punchphoto by Willie Lomibao)
The conduct of “Operation Baklas” in Dagupan was done simultaneously in 47 other towns and cities of Pangasinan and also in line with the “One-Time, Big Time Operation Baklas” of the PNP Provincial Office.
“Operation Baklas” in Dagupan was personally led by Atty. Nathaniel Siaden, acting city election officer, accompanied by some policemen and engineering personnel equipped with cutting instruments.
Even the tarpaulins of the city government showing activities of the city government led by Mayor Belen Fernandez were not spared by the team that operated on A.B. Fernandez Avenue.
Siaden said all paraphernalia that directly or indirectly promote candidacies posted in unauthorized areas are considered illegal and have to be removed.
Siaden said that he has written to all candidates three days prior to the launching of the removal of the illegally placed posters to remove their own over-sized and illegally posted campaign materials.
Under the Comelec rules, campaign materials must be posted only on designated poster area and the same must conform with the approved size of two feet by three feet only.
In Dagupan, the election watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) Dagupan chapter joined the Comelec and its partner in undertaking “Operation Baklas”.
The chair of “Operation Baklas” is the election supervisor while the vice chairman is the police. (Leonardo Micua)
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