Aspiring vice president Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan has called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to respect the right of private persons in putting up campaign materials in their properties or else they will be compelled to file charges against those who will insist to remove such materials.
The Senator stated this following the removal of Team Robredo-Pangilinan's (TROPA) campaign materials even from private properties under the Comelec's "Operation Baklas."
"Kaya panawagan natin sa Comelec: Respetuhin ang private property ng mga volunteers ng TROPA. Kung hindi ay mapipilitan tayong magsampa ng kasong trespassing at destruction of private property sa sinumang magpumilit na labagin ang batas (Our call to the Comelec is to respect the private properties of TROPA volunteers or else we will be compelled to file charges of trespassing and destruction of private property against those who will insist to go against the law)," Pangilinan said.
The aspiring vice president lamented how disheartening the move of the Comelec was, especially that the taken down campaign materials were funded by the supporters.
He reminded the Comelec that private properties are protected under the Constitution.
“Nakakadurog ng puso ang mga video ng pambabaklas ng Comelec ng mga tarps ng ating mga volunteers (The Comelec's removal of the tarps of our volunteers is heart-wrenching)," Pangilinan said.
Amid this issues, Pangilinan told the volunteers that the Team Robredo-Pangilinan fully supports them.
"Sinasalo na tayo ng mga volunteer natin sa pagpapagawa ng tarps, posters, at kung ano-ano pang campaign material. Kinakabit sa sarili nilang mga bahay at sa mga nakukumbinsi para suportahan ang TROPA ng Leni-Kiko. Sasaluhin natin sila sa kasong ito (Volunteers always got our backs in producing tarps, posters, and other campaign material. They are putting it up in their residences and convincing more people to support the Leni-Kiko TROPA. In this case, we got your back)," he said.
Meanwhile, reelectionist Senator Leile de Lima, who is running under the Robred0-Pangilinan ticket, also expressed disappointment over the removal of campaign materials.
She said the Comelec must be ready to be held accountable for removing the materials with no prior notice.
Siguruhin lang nila na kaya nilang sagutin at handa silang managot sa pagtatanggal sa campaign posters na nasa private property at walang abiso.
Imbes na ilegal na pagbabaklas ng poster ang pinagdidiskitahan, tanggalin nila ang polisiyang dagdag pabigat sa kandidato at botante.
— Leila de Lima (@SenLeiladeLima) February 16, 2022
"Siguruhin lang nila na kaya nilang sagutin at handa silang managot sa pagtatanggal sa campaign posters na nasa private property at walang abiso (They must be ready to answer and be held responsible for removing the campaign posters from the private property without prior notice)," De Lima said on Twitter.
"Imbes na ilegal na pagbabaklas ng poster ang pinagdidiskitahan, tanggalin nila ang polisiyang dagdag pabigat sa kandidato at botante (Instead of focusing on removing illegal posters, remove policies that burden the candidates)," she added.