Unconventional election propaganda materials such ribbons and insignias that are associated with particular candidates and political parties will not be spared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from its “operation baklas.”
 
In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said these unconventional propaganda materials that include orange check sign, yellow and orange ribbons will be included in the “operation baklas,” especially if these are placed outside the common poster areas.

“We might include it in our operation baklas, so we’ll just remove them,” he said.

Citing that although these campaign paraphernalia do not bear the name of a candidate, Jimenez said it is assumed and by inference that they belong to a specific political party and/or a candidate.
 
It would be hard to say whether candidates who make use of such unconventional propaganda materials actually committed an election offense or not, he added.

“It’s hard to say that there’s a violation because there’s no specific prohibition on that. These are things that are not explicitly allowed and not explicitly prohibited,” said Jimenez.

For instance, the orange check sign is associated with Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar while the yellow ribbon is associated with Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party (LP).

It was noted that supporters of both LP and NP have resorted to an innovative way of skirting around the “Fair Election Practices Act” by putting ribbons and other campaign gadgets linked to their candidates.

Comelec Resolution No. 8758 or the Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act No. 9006 otherwise known as the “Fair Election Practices Act,” mandates that candidates are only allowed to post campaign posters, billboards, and tarpaulins in common areas identified by the poll body such as plazas, markets, barangay centers and the like.

It prohibits the posting of campaign materials in public places outside of the designated common poster areas such as public structures or buildings, trees, electric posts or wires, schools, shrines, bridges, and main thoroughfares.

With the campaign nearing its homestretch, supporters of those seeking national positions in the coming polls have found a new way of provoking political awareness through the use of colored ribbons. Trees lining the whole stretch of Roxas Blvd., for instance, are festooned with ribbons, mostly orange and yellow. A sprinkling of green can also be seen, though, it comes far and in between.

“The good thing is since there is no name and there’s no basis for assuming to whom these things belong, it will be easy to just remove them. If somebody cries foul, then we’ll finally know to who these things are,” Jimenez said.