MANILA, Philippines — All the illegal campaign materials removed by the government during its clearing operations will be preserved as evidence when the Commission on Elections (Comelec) files charges against erring candidates.

“We will preserve the recovered materials. That will form part of the evidence in the cases we will file after today. We will be able to identify the violators,” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez.

He added that the poll body has already sent notices to candidates who own the illegally posted campaign materials.

The task force kicked off yesterday its “Baklas Billboard” campaign to clear national roads of obstructions. It is composed of the Comelec, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said they support the Comelec initiative and would order all regional police directors to take part in the effort.

“According to the Comelec, the PNP could take down on its own provided that we inform the local Comelec officials,” he added.

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LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra also said that they would monitor and regulate political advertisements on public utility vehicles like buses, taxis and jeepneys.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said his department implemented the campaign in the provinces several days ahead of yesterday’s kick-off in Manila.

In Northern Mindanao, personnel from the Comelec and the DPWH Regional Offices 3 and 10 removed more than 1,000 campaign materials for encroaching on the road right-of-way (RROW) along national highways.

Presidential Decree 1096 or the National Building Code of the Philippines and Section 23 of PD 17 or the Revised Philippine Highways Act declared as illegal any obstruction – including stalls, sheds, billboards, signages and advertisements – along the RROW.

“The government is maximizing its workforce to ensure that we will have clean and transparent national and local elections,” Villar explained.

Apart from this program, the government task forces were tasked to conduct other activities that ensure a peaceful and credible election on May 13.

Pursuant to Comelec Resolution 10471, at least 35 government agencies and government-owned or controlled corporations were mobilized to provide different services such as transportation, security, education and information campaign. It is hoped that the effort would guarantee an orderly and honest campaign period leading to national elections.

Meanwhile, re-electionist Sen. Nancy Binay cried foul over the inclusion of her name among politicians who violated the Comelec rule on common poster areas as she pointed out that her posters have not even been printed yet.

“I have to wait until the Comelec gives me the assigned number… I used to be the 18th senatorial candidate but, in the final list, I was the 15th… I am sure I am not a violator. I have no posters yet,” Binay stressed.

She added that she wrote the poll body a letter to protest the inclusion of her name in the list of politicians who violated the common poster area rule.

“We (lawmakers) should be the first in complying with the rules,” she declared as she called on other candidates as well as her supporters to refrain from pasting posters on electric posts or hanging these on trees. – With Edu Punay, Cecille Suerte Felipe