MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang urged President Aquino's allies to take down billboards, banners or posters bearing their faces and the Chief Executive's image, which is against the administration's "anti-epal" policy.
Sources said Palace officials called the attention of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Joel Villanueva and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez after they placed the President’s photographs on their billboards, banners and posters that promote themselves and their projects.
Villanueva and Gomez's husband and chief of staff actor Richard explained that their supporters were the ones who put up the billboards and posters. Sources said the President had earlier ordered a certain group to stop distributing "noydles" or instant noodles with a yellow ribbons on the packs. Aquino also reportedly asked immigration officials not to put his face on the immigration cards being distributed at the airports.
Various sectors have assailed the proliferation of billboards and posters of epals who continue to defy the President's campaign against putting faces on billboards, banners and posters of government projects. The anti-epal policy of the administration was widely lauded when Aquino announced it, but many politicians have ignored the order.
In a press briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President's policy had been clear and voters should judge those engaging in such kind of campaigning. "What is clear as far as the President is concerned is he does not want his picture posted in any public works or on any billboard, anything in relation to taxpayers' money. That was the instruction he gave to the executive branch," Lacierda said. He adds that this was clear to Public Works and Highways chief Rogelio Singson and this was being followed even in big-ticket projects. He said the voters should decide what kind of leaders they want to elect in the 2013 elections.
"There are many ways to elect a congressman or a public official – through their performance and through the things that they have done. Posting their pictures might be one of the considerations so we will leave it with the citizenry to decide,” Lacierda said. He also said it would be best to ask the people whose faces appear on billboards, banners and posters why these things were on display.
Source: The Philippine Star
