Will Comelec put Lapu-Lapu under its control?

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Comelec supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano would put Lapu-Lapu City under the Comelec’s control if it finds there is indeed intense political rivalry between or among candidates in the city.

Earlier, Lapu-Lapu congressional candidate Joselito “Lito” Ruiz called on the Comelec to place the city under its control to prevent further political violence as the elections draw near.

Ruiz has claimed there is intense rivalry among candidates.

“You are hereby directed to conduct an an investigation on the allegations of Mr. Joselito Ruiz, NPC candidate for House of Representatives,” said Castillano in his memorandum addressed to Lapu-Lapu City Comelec officer Ferdinand Gujilde.

Castillano also asked Gujilde to submit a recommendation whether to put the city under Comelec control.

Ruiz is running against incumbent Mayor Arturo Radaza, who is on his third and last term, and lawyer Eugene Espedido. 

In his letter addressed to Castillano, Ruiz first cited the death of a certain William, a Tau Gamma fraternity member who had been murdered after he allegedly said he was paid P10,000 by a candidate for councilor.

Ruiz also said the death of their campaign coordinator, Allan Berame, who was gunned down by allegedly two unidentified motorcycle-riding men in barangay Kalawisan, Lapu-Lapu City last Dec. 31, was killed because of politics.

But Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el, Lapu-Lapu City police director, said that while they believed the target was Berame, they are not certain that the murder was politically motivated.

The police have ruled out politics and personal grudges and even the love triangle angle as possible motives for the shooting.

Ruiz said the death of lawyer Richard Sison, who was shot to death in Cebu City, happened a week after Sison had allegedly told Mayor Radaza that he was withdrawing as his lawyer in connection with the Girl Scouts of the Philippines fund scam case, which the mayor’s wife, Paz, is allegedly being dragged into.

Ruiz also said his supporters are being harassed by rival groups.

“Political rivalries in the city did not only cause the loss of lives as a consequence but also brought unnecessary havoc to the lives of medium and small business enterprises in the city,” Ruiz said in his letter.

Castillano said the Comelec is authorized to place any area in the country under its control pursuant to Comelec Resolution No. 8734.

The Comelec can step in if there is an "intense political rivalry between or among candidates, political factions or parties, or the presence of paramilitary forces, private armies, or identifiable armed bands."

These forces must be "widely perceived to have committed terrorism, fraud or other election irregularities in past electoral exercises... threaten or tend to disrupt the holding of free, peaceful, honest, orderly and credible elections."

The authority can be exercised by the Comelec to "take immediate and direct control and supervision over all national and local officials and employees required by law to perform duties and/or comply with certain prohibitions relative to the conduct of the elections.