Bacolod Comelec registrar Mavil Majarucon yesterday said the fire that hit the Comelec Manila building will not affect the May 14 elections because the documents and materials needed are stored in a separate building.

She said the Comelec building that was razed by fire early Sunday was totally dilapidated and among the materials burned were the employees' 201 files, data related to previous elections, and records of protested cases.

Majarucon said the list of voters are kept in another building. She said if there are files that may have probably been burned down, Comelec Bacolod has back up copies which could be reconstructed if these are needed later. She said they have the electrical wirings of the Comelec Bacolod Office checked to prevent an incident like what happened to Comelec Manila especially since they have additional computers installed. She also said the premises of their office are being secured by a casual employee during nighttime, while Bac-up 1 personnel have also been requested by her to check their office, especially at night.

Meanwhile, Majarucon said Comelec has agreed not to allow the posting of campaign materials at the public plaza, in the area fronting the San Sebastian Cathedral upon the request of the church, although the plaza has always been designated as a common poster area. She said she was informed by City Agriculturist Goldwyn Nifras and Secretary to the Mayor Roger Balo of the complaint of the Church especially by Msgr. Victorino Rivas, against the posting of campaign materials at the public plaza.

"According to them the public plaza is not the property of the city but that of the church," she added,

On the other hand, Majarucon said her office is going to conduct another "Operation Kakas" this week to remove illegally posted campaign materials.

She said she will request the coordinators of senatorial candidates Ralph Recto and Manny Villar to move their posters away from the plaza across the church.

Campaign (or black propaganda) materials against a certain candidate should be posted along designated common poster areas and are allowed by Resolution No. 7767 or the Implementing Rules of R.A. 9006, as long as they are not libelous or scandalous.*CGS

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