By: Charles Nikko Limon

With just two days left before election day, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Baguio City conducted a final wave of “Operation Baklas,” targeting campaign posters that violated posting guidelines.

Nearly 1,000 materials were removed from public areas.

The team first visited Barangay City Camp Proper, where posters were placed on the fence of a barangay hall under construction.

Oversized materials, including those of senatorial candidates, were also removed.

At Barangay Lower Lourdes, Comelec personnel dismantled posters that covered most of the barangay hall’s fence.

“We’ve long reminded them that there should be a structure designated by the Comelec for common poster areas,” said Election Officer Atty. John Paul Martin. “It shouldn’t be right on the barangay hall itself.”

In Military Cut-Off barangay, a similar scene unfolded as posters on public fences were taken down.

“Comelec informed us about designated posting areas,” said Barangay Secretary Jade Gonzalo. “So we expected campaign materials to be limited there. We were surprised that even that wasn’t followed.”

Despite numerous briefings, Comelec noted ongoing non-compliance.

“We’ll submit the inventory to our law department, and hopefully, we can file charges against violators,” Martin said. “Every election, it’s the same problem, whether national, local, or barangay level.”

The number of dismantled posters was almost triple compared to the 500 removed during a previous operation on March 28.

The campaign also included assistance from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), DENR, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“It was organized,” said Police Colonel Ruel Tagel, City Director of Baguio City Police Office. “We had prior meetings to assign roles. Others handled the removal, and we provided security. So far, everything went smoothly.”

Campaign posters on private property were not removed. 

COMELEC plans to turn over the confiscated materials to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), where persons deprived of liberty will repurpose them for livelihood programs.