Self-proclaimed environmentalist and former councilor Louie Reyes issued the apology on Friday after meeting with reporters explaining that he was not aware that his posters were nailed on trees which is an illegal act.
The Commission on Elections in a joint resolution with other government agencies has banned wayward campaign posters especially those nailed on trees.
Reyes said he immediately ordered his supporters to remove the posters upon learning about the incident.
Reyes, who heads the group Green Youth Brigade, said he has already informed his supporters to hang his campaign posters only on Comelec designated poster areas.
Reyes explained that some unknown individuals requested some campaign posters from his supporters which they then nailed on trees without his knowledge.
“My instructions to my volunteers are clear: don’t hang my posters on trees. As an environmentalist, I will not allow it because I believe that it will harm the trees,” he said.
Reyes assured that the incident will not happen again.
Nailing of campaign materials on trees is prohibited under a joint resolution signed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Comelec and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Presidential Decree 953, signed by then president Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1973, also states that it is unlawful to damage or destroy trees of any kind in public roads, parks, plazas or other public places.
The penalty of violators is two to five years imprisonment or a fine equivalent to the damaged properties.
