The campaign period for candidates in national elective posts kicked off on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.

In line with this, removal of campaign materials posted or hung outside of Commission on Elections (COMELEC)-designated common poster areas, and of illegal sizes, has also started.

In Lapu-Lapu City,  the composite team began the “Operation Baklas” in the vicinity of the City Hall.

The composite team is made of up of personnel from COMELEC Lapu-Lapu, City Prosecutor’s Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Lapu-Lapu City Police.

Personnel of the City Engineer’s Office, as well as the team from Clean and Green joined the "Operation Baklas."

Personnel were divided into two groups for the operation.

In Barangay Ibô, along Airport Road, utility posts and trees seem to grow campaign materials.

Campaign posters collected in Barangay Pusok and Barangay Ibô were quick to fill to the brim a truck of the Clean and Green team.

“Operation Baklas,” according to Atty. Ann Janette Lamban, election officer of COMELEC Lapu-Lapu City,  also serves as a warning to candidates on their violation to election laws. 

In line with this, COMELEC Lapu-Lapu has released a list of designated common poster areas in the city.

COMELEC will conduct another “Operation Baklas” on March 28, 2025 for campaign posters of local candidates. 

In Mandaue City, the composite team is made up of personnel from the COMELEC, Philippine National Police, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Mandaue City Enforcement Unit.

The team started taking down illegal campaign posters at the Reclamation Area hanged from utility poles and trees.

Other posters were placed in higher places that require a ladder to remove.

“Pahimangno karon sa COMELEC sa mga kandidato ug mga supporters, motuman lang gyud sa mga lagda ug adto ra mobutang sa ilang campaign paraphernalia sa mga designated poster areas. Diri sa Mandaue City, tanang 27 ka mga barangay dunay gi-identify nga common poster area,” according to Atty. Anna Fleur Gujilde, Mandaue City election officer. 

Gujilde said supporters who put up these posters need to be guided accordingly. 

“Mas maayo unta nga voluntarily on the part of the candidates, they can ask their supporters nga kun di sakto nga lugar magbutang sa posters nila, ilaha na lang panangtangon,” Gujilde added. 

Offices of COMELEC in the Province of Cebu, and other areas in Central and Eastern Visayas also removed illegal campaign materials of national candidates, as well as party-list groups, during the first day of the nationwide, synchronized “Operation Baklas" on February 11, 2025. 

(with Nikko Sereno/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)