Despite criticisms at its “Oplan Baklas”, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has stood firm and insisted that it has to regulate election propaganda “to level the playing field.”
Comelec Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said that the need to regulate even just the size of propaganda materials inside private properties stems from the need to ensure a leveled playing field.
“You have to regulate election propaganda because what you need to do is to level the playing field. If you were to pursue certain interpretations of jurisprudence to its logical conclusion, you would have a situation wherein a candidate can actually have an entire building covered with their election propaganda and no one would be able to do anything about it,” he said during a television interview on Friday, Feb. 18.
If not regulated, Jimenez said the country would have an election system that is dependent on the number of rich friends.
“Is that really what the sort of election system that we have?”
“Even the Supreme Court says that, when all you are doing is endorsing a candidate, you have to accept certain restrictions on your right,” the poll body’s spokesperson added.
Jimenez went on by saying that neither the Freedom of Speech nor Freedom of Expression are absolute, adding that they “very firmly" believe such.
“Neither Freedom of Expression or Freedom of Speech are absolute rights. In the proper circumstances, under the proper conditions, they can be regulated without Constitutional insult,” he said.
The Comelec has been criticized by several law groups due to their “Oplan Baklas”, telling the poll body that its personnel cannot remove campaign materials inside private properties.
To recall, Jimenez earlier told critics of the poll body’s “Oplan Baklas” to file a complaint if they have a problem with it.
The Comelec has recently launched “Oplan Baklas” wherein the poll body takes down campaign posters that are either oversized or posted in restricted areas