Koalisyong Makabayan Cordillera has launched its electoral campaign amid widespread red-tagging and a “crackdown” on campaign posters across the Cordillera Administrative Region. The group kicked off its campaign on February 11, 2025, with simultaneous postering and leafleting in Baguio City, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet. A campaign sortie was also held at Malcolm Square in Baguio City. Despite a strong start, Makabayan has faced a series of attacks, including social media red-tagging and the targeted removal of posters.
“We’ve received reports of groups tampering and slashing our posters for Makabayan senators and party-lists, including Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women’s, Kabataan, and ACT Teachers, particularly in Baguio City,” said Imelda Tabiando, regional spokesperson for Koalisyong Makabayan Cordillera. “It appears that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is selectively enforcing its ‘Operation Baklas,’ removing our posters in Baguio, Mountain Province, and Kalinga, while posters of Marcos- and Duterte-backed party-lists and senators remain intact. Just this day (February 19, 2025) in Bauko, a clear violation was committed by a party-list when they campaigned while distributing aid to farmers. Not like during our opening salvo, COMELEC has never been slow to respond.”
In Bontoc, Mountain Province, volunteers attempted to reclaim removed posters at the COMELEC office. While posters of senatorial candidates were returned, those of Bayan Muna were withheld. Red-tagging also intensified on the campaign’s first day, primarily targeting Makabayan’s partylist nominees and senatorial candidates.
“Makabayan Cordillera urges COMELEC’s national and regional offices to clarify the guidelines for postering and other campaign activities. Our volunteers have reported confusion regarding official postering sites due to vague descriptions by the COMELEC. While some posters were misplaced that require removal, it is baffling how certain electoral ads have escaped COMELEC’s ‘Operation Baklas.’ If this persists throughout the campaign period, then there is a definite reason to believe that this is a clear crackdown against us in favor of party-lists supported by political dynasties and big businesses,” Tabiando concluded.
