LTFRB to allow PUV political ads
But PNP vows to remove campaign propaganda in gov’t properties
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it would allow political advertisements on some public utility vehicles (PUVs) as long as these follow the rules set by the transport body and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
But campaign posters and advertisements illegally placed in government-owned properties will be taken down by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said he issued a directive to all police regional directors cascading an order from President Duterte to “take down all election
campaign materials in government offices and facilities.” These include billboards, tarpaulins, posters, streamers, banners, and similar materials.
Election security
“The PNP is duty bound to ensure a level playing field for honest, orderly and peaceful elections in May as an apolitical and non-partisan deputized agency of the Comelec,” Albayalde said.
“To be more emphatic about the strictly apolitical stand of the PNP, I am serving notice to all police personnel to remain steadfast along this command policy with due regard to existing rules and regulations that prohibit personnel from engaging in partisan political activity,” he stressed.
Albayalde said the PNP will be fielding a 181,774-strong police contingent for public safety and general law enforcement duties on election day.
Of the number, 99,976 personnel (55 percent) will be deployed in various polling centers; 54,532 (30 percent) will be assigned to Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs); 18,177 (10 percent) will compose the Reactionary Standby Support Force; and the remaining 9,089 (5 percent) will act as “Red” Teams and Headquarters Skeletal Forces.
The campaign period for senatorial and party-list candidates kicked off on Feb. 12, 2019 and will last until May 11, 2019.
The campaign period for members of the House of Representatives, regional, provincial, city and municipal offices will be from March 29, 2019 to May 11, 2019.
Election arm
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) has been accredited as the Comelec citizens’ arm in the May 13 mid-term polls.
The poll body granted the petition of the poll watchdog group seeking accreditation January 11.
In a resolution, the en banc took into account PPCRV's track record, particularly its participation in the past electoral exercises and in subsequent similar election related activities, both local and national.
The Comelec also recognized petitioner's capabilities in discharging its duties as a citizens’ arm in the recently conducted 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
“Considering that the Commission is laboring under very tight timelines, it would accordingly need the help of all advocates of orderly and honest elections to assist it in the upcoming...2019 National and Local elections,” read the resolution.
“The petitioner having ably demonstrated its capacity to promote the public interest and assist this commission in the performance of its functions and activities, and has played a vigilant role in overseeing matters relating or in any way affecting the right and exercise the right of suffrage, we do not see any cogent reason to deny the petition,” it further read.
As a citizens arm, the PPCRV is tasked to help cleanse the voters list of illegal registrants; report to the commission violations on the conduct of the political campaign, election propaganda and electoral expenditures; exhort all registered voters in their respective areas to go to their polling places and cast their votes among others.
Transit political ads
The LTFRB on Tuesday said that transit political ads will be allowed on public jeepneys, buses, and taxis as long as they meet the rules and regulations on election propaganda set by the Comelec.
It should also pass the standard requirements and guidelines in the processing, approval, and issuance of permit on transit advertisement set by the Board through Memorandum Circular 2013-005. This order was amended by Memorandum Circular 2015-029, particularly item C section III of the 2013 memo which lifted the prohibition of political advertisements on PUVs to be given a permit.
The amendment came after the Supreme Court ordered to lift the poll body's prohibition of political ads on PUVs in its decision in the case of party-list 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK) versus Comelec promulgated on April 14, 2015.
According to the LTFRB, the general rules on PUV advertisement can be found under the terms and conditions on transit advertisement as stated in MC 2013-005 issued in September, 2013.