MANILA: All 12 senatorial candidates of the administration were ordered by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday to immediately remove campaign posters proclaiming their supposed party coalition.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the notices were sent to the candidates regarding their campaign posters stating that they belong to “Team PNoy Coalition.” He said there was no registered “Team PNoy Coalition.”
Notices were sent to Juan Edgardo Angara, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Maria Ana Consuelo Madrigal, Ramon Magsaysay Jr, Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes IV, Cynthia Villar, Ana Theresia Hontiveros, Aquilino Martin Pimentel III, Lorna Legarda, Francis Joseph Escudero, and Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares.
The Comelec’s law department earlier reported seeing a Team PNoy poster on an electric post along West Service Road in Parañaque City.
“We treat it as a tandem/joint advert. Team PNoy is not an accredited coalition but an informal banding of candidates from different parties,,” he sazid.
He advised all candidates and parties to comply Comelec Resolution 9615. Under the rules, parties and candidates may post campaign materials only in authorized common poster areas in public places and in private places provided it has the consent of the owner.
Violation would mean an election offence, which carries a penalty of one to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and prohibition to occupy public office.
Comelec previously sent notices to Hontiveros, Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño, Angara, Trillanes, Edward Hagedorn, Cagayan Rep Juan Ponce Enrile Jr former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Nancy Binay, Pimentel, Escudero, Madrigal, Aquino, Cayetano, Villar, Magsaysay and Llamanzares.
Brillantes also said Madrigal is not yet off the hook despite the apology she offered over her online campaign gimmick of offering an iPad as prize.
The Philippine Star
