Comelec rejects Zambo officials’ request for gun ban exemption

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday rejected the request of Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar to exempt the city’s village officials and watchmen from the gun ban.

The Comelec extended the filing of the computerized voters’ list in the city, in consideration of the armed conflict that broke out Sept. 9 between government troops and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said they could not consider Salazar’s request as this might lead to more election-related violence in the city.

“It is unlikely that we will grant them the exemption. Doing so might result more to them shooting each other,” Brillantes said.

The poll body amended an earlier resolution setting the posting of the computerized voters’ list on Sept. 30, and reset it to Oct. 10.

The extension was requested by election officer Joseph Ian Trias of Zamboanga City’s district 2, who noted the disruption in preparations for the barangay elections in the area.

The Philippine National Police had asked the Comelec to postpone the elections in the city as clearing operations have yet to be completed.

Over the weekend, Salazar announced that the city’s Crisis Management Committee (CMC) had asked for the exemption of village officials in the Comelec gun ban owing to the continuous clearing operations.

City Administrator Antonio Orendain, CMC vice chairman, said the Association of Barangay Council had moved for the postponement of the elections not only in war-torn areas but in the entire city.       

Orendain said the CMC have relayed their appeal in a meeting with Comelec Commissioner Christian Lim.

Lim was in Zamboanga City on Wednesday to assess the situation and determine whether there is basis for the postponement.

“Commissioner Lim assured us that he would bring the matter to Manila and the result would be out before Oct. 11, the day of the filing of candidacy,” he said.

Brillantes said candidates in the city’s barangay elections could apply for security details with the Comelec.

“Our rule is they can be entitled to security protection since they are candidates. The question is why do they want to carry (guns) themselves when they are entitled to get security,” he said.

This developed as the Comelec approved 60 percent of the applications for gun ban exemption and security details.

Poll body records showed that 211 of 348 applications for gun ban exemption have been granted.

A total of 133 applications are still being evaluated while four have been deferred for lack of documents.

Comelec Commissioner Lui Guia earlier said the poll body would consider three factors in deciding to postpone or not the elections.

Guia said these factors are the presence of armed groups, physical status of schools that would be used as voting centers, and if voters were displaced and thus unable to vote on elections day.

Zambo courts reopen

Court hearings and offices in Zamboanga City are set to resume today after the city CMC turned the hall of justice over to the judges yesterday afternoon.

“The executive judge of Zamboanga has informed the Office of Court Administrator that the Hall of Justice is now officially open. Work will begin tomorrow (Friday),” the SC posted in its Twitter account.

The SC said the justice building has no power yet as transformers were yet to be repaired after they were destroyed in the firefight.

Work in city courts has been suspended since the standoff started between government security forces and MNLF rebels on Sept. 9.  

Relief operations ongoing

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said there are 35 evacuation centers that remain open to serve the 13,488 displaced families or 59,376 individuals.

Of the 35, the JFE Sports Complex remains the biggest evacuation center sheltering 5,350 families or 25,304 persons. 

At the height of the crisis, a total of 54 evacuation centers housed 17,437 families or 76,419 people.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said aside from those in 35 shelters, the agency is providing relief assistance to some 12,396 families or 57,940 evacuees who are staying with their relatives and friends in the city.

As of yesterday, DSWD has provided P113.189 million worth of assistance to the affected families.

Skills training for evacuees

Villagers displaced by the armed conflict in Zamboanga City can look forward to another source of livelihood as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is offering free skills training for them. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Janvic Mateo, Edu Punay, Rainier Allan Ronda