Warps on Tarps
Oh my… It’s getting noisy again. It’s noisy over radio airwaves and on social media that elementary school kids can hear the noise. When I ask them about it, of course, they can’t relay much. All they can tell me is that the Mayor and another guy are making noise. Well, they’re kids. Remarkably, the noise is loud enough to distract them on their way to morning classes.
Is it in any way illegal for some personality to hang and display their tarpaulins on public places? Let me think. I guess not. Tarpaulins have become the popular method of printed announcements on the roads. They are also good as stage backdrop. Compared to the streamers which a long time ago, exclusively came in white, red and black on the same material used as sacks for rice, tarps can be larger, far more colorful, capable of showing any image, and make good protection on windows during strong typhoons. I’m not a legal expert but I think anyone could hang a tarp anywhere as long as the person who owns the structure permits it.
Could it be an election offense? Well, I guess it could be, if it includes the words, “vote … for…”. But without those or any other phrase to the same effect, the tarp is as good as a promotional material for the newest K-pop boy band or a scantily clad attractive woman holding a liquor bottle.
Although, you don’t really need those words to tell that a tarp is political. Come on. We would see a tarp with an image of the incumbent president’s sister with a message of gratitude. There’s a tarp with the image of the incumbent governor with a congratulatory message. There’s a tarp of a rumored candidate with the message to drive safely, appropriately standing along the highway. Of course, they’re not selling any product, or inviting to some store, or calling for players in some online cockfight. You know, we all know what those tarps are for.
Could a local chief executive order the taking down of some tarps? I’m not too sure if a governor, mayor or barangay chairman could do something like that. I guess, it could be if the tarp poses any danger. But, what danger could it pose? Is not that the job of COMELEC (if it’s an election violation) of the PNP or BFP if it’s a physical hazard?
Does not a national law or order, especially that which was issued later supercede a local ordinance that was issued earlier? For example does not an order with a national scope which was issued in 2015 rule over a municipal ordinance issued in 2013? Or does the local government reserve the authority to maintain and implement its autonomous regulations? After all, each municipality, province or city would have its own context.
Social media commenters say if one of them violates the law before being elected, he should be doing more violations if ever elected. Some of them question why other tarps especially those of would-be candidates, are not given the same treatment. Are not many of those hanging not just in the city but more of them in neighboring towns? Why are these from one personality seemingly singled out? Still, some point out that that the accusing party is also guilty of the fault it accuses on the other party, that is assuming that it really is a fault on legitimate grounds.
Come on, we can clearly see what‘s happening here. One of them is throwing the weight of his office, influence or financial resources around to pull down and destabilize the other one’s campaign. Yes, those ordinances and orders do exist. But, one of them is just using them as fronts for his own advantage. One of them seems to think that by restraining the other’s movement, he advances his own. One of them seems to feel unpleasant and unconfident when sighting his opponent’s tarps while driving around downtown. Are not other tarps around?
This should not come as any surprise. I have heard of staff who are affiliated with another opponent being recommended for resignation or early retirement. Then, those who remain were called (or so I heard) for personal counselling to ensure their allegiance. Talk about a purge.
Can’t just both of them play the game by the rules like gentlemen? But that’s quite difficult when both of them have different interpretations of the rules of gentlemanly conduct.
If we have this now, then we could expect more and worse in the coming months.
“Do not have two differing measures in your house—one large, one small. You must have accurate and honest weights and measures…” Deuteronomy 25:14-15
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