Rival political camps in Taguig City continue to trade allegations of election campaign violations following a scuffle last week at a common poster area designated by the Commission on Elections.
Richard Gomez, who is running for councilor under Kilusang Diwa ng Taguig party of opposition mayoral candidate Rica Ti帽ga, accused employees of the city government鈥檚 Public Order and Safety Office (Poso) under reelectionist Mayor Lani Cayetano of 鈥渉arassment.鈥�
This was after Poso personnel tore off KDT posters and threatened his supporters. Gomez claimed that he was also manhandled in the April 9 incident in Central Bicutan.
He said he and his entourage had just finished a house-to-house campaign in the area around 11 a.m. when they saw around 20 men in 鈥渂lack Poso jackets鈥� removing KDT posters at a rotunda fronting the North Daanghari welcome arch.
Gomez, who was then in a convoy with his supporters, said the Poso men then approached their vehicles, 鈥渒icked them鈥� and tore off even the tarpaulins on his private car.
In the ensuing commotion, Gomez said he was pushed back while his supporters were choked and punched in the stomach by 鈥渢he goons.鈥�
He later reported the incident to the Taguig police station.
But the Cayetano camp said it was the KDT who 鈥渟tarted it鈥� on Tuesday by 鈥渆ncroaching鈥� on a section of the poster area that was exclusive to the mayor鈥檚 party.
Darwin Icay, a candidate for councilor and spokesperson for the local Nacionalista Party chapter, said the Poso agents were only 鈥渁ccosting鈥� Gomez鈥檚 supporters for removing Cayetano鈥檚 posters.
鈥淭he rules should be spelled out for the Ti帽gas in order to achieve an orderly and clean election,鈥� Icay added. 鈥淭hese common poster areas are intended only for candidates of the political party that sought permission from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).鈥�
But according to the Comelec鈥檚 Taguig office, any party can use the common poster areas and only the poll body is authorized to remove illegal campaign materials.