With only about a month before the polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday, April 11, conducted its Operation Baklas or dismantling prohibited campaign materials in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Comelec said it started the operation at Kartilya ng Katipunan in Ermita, Manila.
The poll body’s field offices were mobilized for the region-wide Oplan Baklas.
Per Comelec’s advisory, the areas covered are public places in NCR, such as waiting sheds, sidewalks, street and lamp posts, electric posts and wires, traffic signages and other sign boards erected on public property, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers and underpasses, bridges, main thoroughfares, and center islands of roads and highways.
Also covered by the operation are schools, public shrines, barangay halls, government offices, health centers, public structures and buildings or any edifice thereof; and within the premises of public transport terminals.
“This activity will be livestreamed on the official Facebook Page (facebook.com/comelec.ph) and YouTube channel (youtube.com/COMELEC) of the Commission on Elections,” it said.
In March, the Supreme Court (SC) temporarily halted the implementation of Comelec’s Oplan Baklas in private properties.
The SC statement stated: “The Supreme Court, during its en banc deliberations today, March 8, 2022, issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Comelec Director and Spokesperson James Arthur Jimenez in connection with the poll body’s Oplan Baklas.”