The Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Pateros removed campaign tarpaulins of candidates that did not follow the prescribed guidelines.

Comelec-Pateros, headed by election officer Armando Mallorca, launched "Operation Baklas" and dismantled 47 tarpaulins used as campaign materials by national and party-list candidates for the May 12 national and local elections.

Based on Comelec Resolution 11086, candidates are only allowed to post election campaign and propaganda materials in designated common poster areas.

"Operation Baklas" by Comelec-Pateros (Photo from Armando Mallorca's Facebook account)

Designated common poster areas in Pateros, according to Mallorca:

- Barangay Aguho - Front of Municipal Hall, G. De Borja St., Aguho, Pateros, Metro Manila

- Barangay Magtanggol - Along M. Almeda St., Barangay Magtanggol

- Barangay Martirez del '96 - Dulong Bayan Monument (along M. Almeda St., Martirez del '96)

- Barangay Poblacion - Front of Museo de Pateros, Poblacion, Pateros

- Barangay San Pedro - Along B. Morcilla Bridge, San Pedro

- Barangay San Roque - Front of Brgy. San Roque Multi-purpose Hall

- Barangay Sta. Ana - C. Almeda Extension, Sta. Ana

- Barangay Rosario Kanluran - Sto. Rosario Covered Court, Sto. Rosario Kanluran

- Barangay Sto. Rosario Silangan - Along M. Lozada St., Sto. Rosario Silangan

- Barangay Tabacalera - Along F.C. Cruz St., Tabacalera

Candidates are not allowed to put up the materials in public places and in private properties without the consent of the owner.

Public places, according to the resolution, are the following:

- Publicly-owned electronic announcement boards, such as LED display boards located along highways and streets, LCD monitors posted on walls of public buildings, and other similar devices which are owned by local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, or any agency or instrumentality of the Government;

- Motor vehicles used as patrol cars, ambulances, and for other similar purposes that are owned by local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, and other agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, particularly those bearing government license plates;

- Public transport vehicles owned and controlled by the government such as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), and Philippine National Railway trains and the like;

- Waiting sheds, sidewalks, street and lamp posts, electric posts and wires, traffic signages and other signboards erected on public property, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, flyovers and underpasses, bridges, main thoroughfares, center island of roads and highways;

- Schools, public shrines, barangay halls, government offices, health centers, public structures and buildings or any edifice thereof;

- Within the premises of public transport terminals, owned and controlled by the government, such as bus terminals, airports, seaports, docks, piers, train stations and the like.

Section 29 of the resolution states that “all prohibited forms of election propaganda shall be immediately removed, or caused to be removed, by said candidate or party at least seventy-two (72) hours before the start of the campaign period.”

The campaign period for senator and party-list groups started on Feb. 11 and will last until May 10.

On the other hand, the campaign period for candidates for congressmen, and provincial, city and municipal positions will start on March 28.

Mallorca reminded local candidates in Pateros to “post your campaign materials in common poster areas and private places with owners consent starting March 28.”