Lente to Comelec: Ensure constitutional rights upheld in 'Oplan Baklas'
By Jel Santos
Election watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) has called on the Commission on Election (Comelec) to ensure that constitutional rights are upheld in the implementation of "Oplan Baklas."
"We enjoin Comelec to ensure that in the implementation of the guidelines to ‘Oplan Baklas’ and the regulation of election paraphernalia, constitutional rights are upheld. Any act to stop any illegal election activity or confiscate, tear down, and stop any unlawful, libelous, misleading, or false election paraphernalia must be done following due process after due notice and hearing," it said in a statement on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
LENTE explained why COMELEC has an Oplan Baklas initiative, noting that there are reasons why limits exist in election campaigns.
"The reason why we have these limits is to provide equal opportunities for all candidates. If the limits on campaign spending and ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates can be easily circumvented, it could result in candidates with more financial resources flooding voters with an almost unlimited amount of election paraphernalia as they will be allowed to spend an almost unlimited amount of money and resources for their campaign," LENTE noted.
As such, the poll watchdog pointed out that the Philippine electoral context shows a low level of electoral competitiveness and a low level of inclusiveness in the country.
"Seats are often won by those with financial superiority and by members of political dynasties who more often than not also enjoy financial superiority over the average Filipino citizen," it stressed.
Being one with the COMELEC in the “Oplan Baklas” initiative, LENTE is also committed to monitoring the implementation of such to ensure that constitutional rights are upheld.
Meanwhile, as the country gets near the 2022 polls, the COMELEC will also be releasing a precinct finder to make it easier for voters to determine the voting facility assigned to them.
"Comelec will release a precinct finder in March. It is a site where we can find precincts before Election Day,” Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting Chairperson Myla Villanueva said.