MARAWI CITY — While the city center was abuzz with mundane sounds of vehicles and chatter, Marawi City was unusually quite on the first day of the local campaign period.

There were no loud campaign jingles or announcements. Even the candidates eyeing a seat for local positions were nowhere to be seen.

Instead, local Comelec officials along with escorts from the local police and Task Force Marawi were the ones who made the rounds not to campaign, but to take down campaign posters found outside common poster areas.

Among those they took down were posters that hung on trees, stuck on light posts, and other public property.

Speaking to ABS-CBN News, Atty. Norpaisa Paglala-Naduyog, Marawi City’s local election officer, said candidates and their respective parties were informed of a what they call as a “synchronized nationwide Oplan Baklas” as early as three days ago. Nevertheless they were still able to take down a handful. One candidate’s poster was taken down 43 times.

“Ang sabi naman sa aming rules and regulations subject po siya sa mga possible cases ng mga nagpopost ng tarps na not designated poster area,” she said.

(What is stipulated in in our rules and regulations is that they can be subject to possible cases if they post tarpaulins outside of common poster areas.)

Naduyog admitted that while they were still able to take down a sizable number of posters, it isn’t as much compared to previous election seasons. One reason, according to her, is that the campaign period fell during the season of Holy Ramadan.

RED AREA, BUT PEACEFUL

Marawi City is among the over 30 areas in different parts of the country listed under red areas by the Comelec.

An area is categorized as red due to grave security concerns and a history of election-related incidents. Marawi Police Officer-in-Charge P/LtCol Muhiddin Pagayawan said that based on previous experiences, the city’s political rivalry has always been intense.

“Exisiting po dito sa Marawi City yung intense political rivalries between candidates. May history of harassment and mauling incident. Medyo matindi ang bangayan ng parties.

Despite this, authorities said that the situation in Marawi City has remained peaceful so far. Naduyog is banking on the peace covenant signed between and among local candidates of Marawi and provincial candidates of the province of Lanao Del Sur to ensure a peaceful elections on May 12.

Vying for highest position in the city is Shariff Zain Gandamra, son on the incumbent mayor, former mayor Fahad Pre Salic and Umbra Jubert Tomawis.

Incumbent mayor Majul Usman Gandamra is attempting to remain in the city hall as its vice mayor. He is up against Anouar Abdul Rauf and Anuar Sumindad Marabur.

Authorities said they are working hard to ensure a peaceful election season by increasing police visibility and checkpoints. This following the killing of Datu Odin Sinsuat’s election officer in Maguindanao Del Norte earlier this week.