By ILOILO CITY – The Makabayan Coalition Panay has officially denounced the tampering of its party-list posters by members of Team Uswag, affiliated with Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, in a designated area at La Paz Plaza.
Reported by election watchdog Kontra Daya Panay on April 5, 2025, the incident prompted the coalition to file a formal complaint with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Regional Election Director, Atty. Dennis Ausan.
In the complaint, Makabayan stated that the action constitutes a clear violation of Section 25 of COMELEC Resolution No. 11086, which prohibits any individual from removing, destroying, defacing, or tampering with lawful election propaganda during the campaign period. The section explicitly mandates that, “during the campaign period, it is unlawful for any person to remove, destroy, take down, or, in any manner, deface or tamper with, or prevent the distribution of any lawful election propaganda.”
The Makabayan Coalition emphasized that its posters have been displayed at La Paz Plaza since February 18, 2025. Despite operations conducted by the COMELEC in the area, no communication had been made indicating that these posters were not intended for the designated space. The coalition also referenced previous incidents, including a February 24 report of fraudulent posters being displayed in several areas, including La Paz Plaza. Additionally, on February 27, Kabataan Partylist posters were removed due to the absence of the “paid for by” detail, with no prior information from COMELEC regarding the specific guidelines for party-list posters in the area.
The coalition added that while it strongly condemns the act of tampering with its posters, it is willing to work and cooperate closely with COMELEC and wishes to receive an immediate response from the agency.
“We look forward to your prompt action on this matter and are prepared to cooperate in any inquiry or proceeding that may arise. Should our posters be deemed outside the designated area, we are more than willing to relocate them accordingly,” the letter added.
The Makabayan Coalition further underscored the commitment of its volunteers and supporters, expressing appreciation for the hard work and resources dedicated to the campaign.
“We highly value the efforts of our volunteers and the resources utilized in our campaign. As such, we always ensure compliance with campaign guidelines while respecting the rights of others,” they concluded.
As the campaign period intensifies, political groups in Iloilo City continue to navigate the intricacies of election regulations, with the COMELEC expected to address the coalition’s complaint in the coming days./PT
