Provincial election officer Manuel Advincula has ordered election officers from 25 local government units in Oriental Negros to strictly enforce provisions of the Fair Elections Act, especially in the placement of posters by candidates.

A memorandum was issued by the Commission on Elections creating a task force to be headed by the election officers, with the Philippine National Police, and General Services Office employees as members. Election propaganda materials are allowed only in designated areas, not in school premises, bridges, electric posts, among others, Advincula reiterated.

In Dumaguete City, 31 poster areas have been identified, city election officer Eddie Aba said.

Aba confirmed violations of the elections law at this early stage of the campaign period for senators.

The task force will remove these propaganda materials and the cost of doing so will be charged to the concerned candidate, Aba said.

Election officers were also ordered to submit their report 24 hours after the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacies for local positions midnight of March 30.

Provincial election supervisors were directed to report the CoC filing to the COMELEC legal department in Manila 72 hours after the deadline to give due course to petition for disqualifications.

Barangay officials have also been deputized by the COMELEC to tear down and remove these election propaganda materials placed in undesignated areas.

Advincula said barangay officials are authorized by law to help in the implementation of the Fair Elections Act through the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Each barangay has a designated poster area where candidates, both local and national, can place their election campaign materials. Pasting them on electric posts, communication facilities, in trees, near school campuses or government installations are flagrant violation of the law.

Barangay officials can maintain their non-partisanship by removing all, even posters of the candidates of their choice, if placed outside the designated areas.

Meanwhile, 303rd Brigade Commander Gen. Gregorio Fajardo advised local candidates from the position of governor down to the municipal or city councilors to secretly coordinate with the authorities whenever there are emissaries coming from the underground movement sent to collect taxes from them.

He enjoins candidates not to cooperate with the communist rebels, by secretly coordinating with the army.

Giving in to the demands would make the Communist Party of the Philippine New People's Army stronger in terms of logistical buildup.

Fajardo said the permit to campaign fee is not a new issue. He confirmed the imposition of these revolutionary taxes in the province but he refused to give details.*JG

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