Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jesus Verzosa appealed to the candidate who will seek posts in the coming May 10 elections not to use  the trees as billboards for their campaign paraphernalia.

“I am appealing to all candidates to please spare the trees from being used as billboards for their campaign posters in wanton disregard of our election laws,” said Versoza.

He directed all police commanders to start the lead in enforcing the provisions of the Election Code that prohibits the posting of campaign posters outside the common poster areas established by Commission on Elections.

“These improperly posted campaign materials, besides being eyesores, destroy the trees and even contribute to the degradation of the environment since most of them are made of tarpaulin and other non-biodegradable materials,” the PNP chief stated.

“Like other living things, trees also suffer and their growth affected, when foreign objects such as posters and other election materials are recklessly posted or hanged on its trunks and branches with nails and wires, ” he explained.

The police chief  also encouraged the planting of trees which are traditionally presented by police offices to visiting police top brass.

The directive was issued after observing campaign posters of national and local candidates were posted in every tree lined along provincial highways during Versoza’s visits to the provinces across the country to see the election security preparations for the coming elections in May and meet with police commanders and local election officials.

-Jenny Villareal