NAGLABAS noong Martes ng temporary restraining order o TRO ang Korte Suprema na nagpapatigil sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa ipatupad ang “Oplan Baklas” o ang pagbabaklas ng oversized campaign materials sa private properties.
Sa inilabas na resolusyon ng SC en banc, ipinag-utos nito sa Comelec na mag-submit ng komento sa loob ng 10 araw ukol sa petisyon na isinumite ng St. Anthony College (SAC) ng Roxas City, Inc., na kinakatawan ni Sr. Geraldine Denoga, et. al.
Matatandaang noong nakaraang linggo, nag-file ang petitioners ng “extremelyurgent petition” na kumukuwestiyon sa interpretasyon ng Comelec sa Section 21 , 24 at 26 ng Comelec Resolution 10730.
Sa petition for certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus, hiniling ng petitioners sa Supreme Court na pigilan ang Comelec sa pagpapatupad ng ng naturang mga probisyon at ibalik ang lahat ng tarpaulins, posters, billboard, murals, at iba pang election materials na sinira , inalis at kinumpiska sa ilalim ng “Oplan Baklas.”
Iginiit ng petitioners na ang Comelec Resolution 10730 ay maaari lamang ipatupad sa mga kandidato at political parties at hindi sa mga pribadong indibidwal tulad ng mga naghain ng petisyon.
“COMELEC had no legal basis to regulate expressions made by private citizens.
Respondents cite the Constitution, laws, and jurisprudence to support their position that they had the power to regulate the tarpaulin. However, all of these provisions pertain to candidates and political parties. Petitioners are not candidates. Neither do they belong to any political party. COMELEC does not have the authority to regulate the enjoyment of the preferred right to freedom of expression exercised by a non-candidate in this case,” ayon sa mga nagsam ng petisyon.
Binigyang-diin din ng petitioners na ang election materials sa kanilang private property ay “act of ownership and any restriction on this right must be reasonable and there should be a law supporting it.”
“Petitioners reiterate that the COMELEC resolution applies only to candidates and political parties. And there is no clear and present danger in the present case that would necessitate intrusion by the COMELEC on private properties.
“To be clear, while the petitioners are supporters of presidential candidate, Vice-President Leni Robredo, the instant case refers to fundamental and constitutionally protected rights and liberties which apply to everyone, regardless of political inclinations and beliefs, “ ayon pa sa petiitoners.
