ILIGAN CITY (PIA) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here led another Operation Baklas to remove illegal campaign materials from public spaces in compliance with election rules.
The task force conducted its third operation on May 10, covering areas from Barangay Buruun and Barangay Ditucalan to the city proper. Members removed tarpaulins, posters, and other materials placed along public roads, infrastructure, and trees.
The team included personnel from Comelec, Iligan City Police Office, City Engineer’s Office, City General Services Office, Department of Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Iligan Light and Power, Inc.
City Election Officer Attorney Anna Liza Barredo said the activity follows Comelec’s national directive to enforce election guidelines.
“Para malimpyo napod ang atoang dakbayan karong umaabot nga eleksyon. It is our 3rd Operation Baklas as mandated pod sa amo. It is the last day for the campaign of the candidates, so as a reminder pod sa mga kandidato nga taman unya at midnight ra atong pagpangampanya. Hopefully ugmang adlawa, wala nay mangampanya, wala na magpost og tarpaulin o election propaganda tungod kay prohibited na ang pagpangampanya gikan sa ugma hangtod sa election day,” she said.
(To keep our city clean for the upcoming elections, this is our third Operation Baklas as mandated by our office. It is the last day for the candidates’ campaign, so as a reminder to the candidates, campaigning is only allowed until midnight tonight. Hopefully, by tomorrow, no one will be campaigning or posting tarpaulins or election propaganda because campaigning is prohibited from tomorrow until election day.)
Comelec reminded the public that starting May 11, a 48-hour campaign silence period will begin ahead of the May 12 elections.
Barredo said all removed materials are documented and submitted to the Task Force Baklas in Manila.
“Basta reported na sya kinsa tong mga kandidato nga involved sa mga campaign material nga nangabaklas and what sizes that be,” she said.
(Those are reported, which candidates are involved in the campaign materials that were removed and the sizes of those materials.)
She encouraged voters to use the remaining time to finalize their decisions.
“For voters, now nga nadunggan na nila ang mga mensahe sa mga kandidato for 45 days, siguro panahon na nga makakuha na sila sa chosen candidate nila para sa election,” she said.
(For voters, now that they have heard the messages from the candidates for 45 days, it is probably time for them to choose their preferred candidate for the election.)
Barredo also reminded voters to bring their Voter Information Sheet (VIS), which contains instructions, a sample ballot, and other voting details such as the voter’s name, precinct number, and voting center.
Iligan City has about 187,000 registered voters across 47 voting centers in 44 barangays. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
