Supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo were alarmed by photos and videos circulating on social media wherein policemen and military officers were seen painting over a mural of Robredo and running mate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan in Echague, Isabela.
The video showed a woman in blue arguing with an official about the plan to paint over the mural.
The unnamed official said he would ask to repaint the wall in white. The pink mural has the image of Robredo and Pangilinan, as well as their campaign slogan “Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay Lahat (Honest Government, A Better Life For All).”
“COMELEC has gone too far. Literally a private property. Using private funds by private individuals. Rights of the owner, of the artists violated. @jabjimenez This is in Echague, Isabela. #AnyareCOMELEC,” tweeted t.ocin.o (@nicoquejano).
Kyle (@Kyle61346896) posted two photos. The before photo showed a group of supporters before the original mural of Robredo and Pangilinan and the after photo showed it painted over.
“Anong nangyayari sa Isabela? After Tarpaulin, ngayon naman murals???? Hoy @COMELEC @jabjimenez baka gusto niyong gumalaw (What is happening in Isabela? After Tarpaulin, now its the murals???? Hey @COMELEC @jabjimenez you may want to move)?,” PinoyAkoBlog (@PinoyAkoBlog) wrote.
Aside from tagging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on their tweets, supporters also tagged the poll body’s spokesman, James Jimenez.
Earlier this week, Comelec started its “Oplan Baklas” across the country to remove campaign paraphernalia in non-designated areas.
READ: Comelec launches 'Operation Baklas'
They also removed materials not following the sizes set by the poll body.
However, Robredo’s supporters particularly decry the removal of her posters and tarpaulins from private properties. A video in Isabela showed a streamer being taken down from inside a privately owned building.
Jimenez said these actions were in compliance to Comelec Resolution No. 10730, but lawyers Romulo Macalintal and Chel Diokno said this is in violation of the people’s constitutional rights to property and freedom of speech and expression.
Team Leni Robredo (TLR), the volunteer arm of the campaign, strongly condemned the actions of the poll body “that seems to selectively target private citizens who are supporting the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko
Pangilinan.”
The COMELEC clampdown is clearly designed to create a climate of fear as more and more people are now standing up and demanding for a change in leadership - one that is clean, efficient, and for the people,” the statement read.
The statement added that volunteers and supporters should be secure in their own properties.
READ: Comelec taking down poll materials has ‘chilling effect’ — Robredo spox
“The COMELEC has weaponized the Oplan Baklas to undermine these rights, and that could easily be seen as an attempt to harass and intimidate the opposition and critics,” it read.
TLR said Robredo’s volunteers are ordinary citizens who use their own resources to contribute to the campaign.
“We believe that it is unjust to quell their right to participate in the electoral process, which involves promoting their preferred candidate using their hard-earned money and resources within their respective private properties,” the team added.