The Commission on Elections (COMELEC)’s “Operation Baklas” will start removing propaganda materials put up in the wrong places beginning February 13, 2025.

The operation will be conducted in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

However, COMELEC Central Visayas Regional Election Director, Atty. Francisco Pobe, made it clear that the personnel from the AFP and PNP will be around to secure areas but will not join in removing the campaign materials.

Prior to the operation, they will send notices to candidates to take down the materials themselves.

Once the candidates fail to take down the materials from non-designated common poster areas, COMELEC will issue a show cause order against them.

The announcement came during a visit of DILG Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla in Cebu.

Remulla reminded government workers, including policemen, to serve continuously the public with dignity and to remain non-partisan.

Remulla was accorded arrival honors by the Police Regional Office 7 in his visit to Cebu on February 5, 2025.

Further, COMELEC and DILG confirmed that no towns or cities in Central Visayas were placed under the list of “Areas of Concern,” as of this writing.

However, there are a few areas in Cebu monitored tightly for possible intense political rivalry.

The PNP has embarked on an ongoing assessment of areas in Cebu to confirm any political tension.