Makati to penalize village bets violating poll ad rules

By DJ Yap Inquirer MANILA, Philippines--Candidates running for barangay (village) or Sangguniang K abataan (youth council) posts in Makati City were warned not to violate electio n laws on the posting of campaign materials, lest they get fined. The city government of Makati, through its environmental services department, a lso asked the candidates to minimize the use of campaign posters and to post th em only on exterior walls allowed by the Commission on Elections. "These campaign materials are eyesores and we do not want our city to be litter ed with them," city environment department chief Danilo Villas said on Thursday . "Now that we are approaching the official campaign period, which will start on October 19, we must step up our efforts to ensure that our environmental and el ection laws are upheld in Makati," he said. He called on the candidates to comply with the city's ordinance prohibiting the defacement of walls and public spaces and avoid posting campaign materials on walls and lampposts along major roads. Villas said his office has been directed to remove all campaign materials poste d outside the Comelec designated areas, in accordance with the Makati Solid Was te Code as well as election laws covering campaign materials. Under the Code, individual violators are fined P1, 000, while organizations are required to pay P5, 000. Villas, who also heads the Association of Metro Manila Environment Officers, re minded the candidates that they should first obtain the consent of homeowners i f they wanted to post campaign materials on the walls of private residences. He also urged residents to report candidates seen violating the laws.