MANILA, Philippines — Some electoral aspirants are ordering attacks on election officials and their families when denied requests that could give them unfair campaign advantages, Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia said Monday, December 23.
Garcia believes this likely explains why gunmen had recently targeted a Sulu election supervisor who reportedly rejected such demands.
The December 21 attack in Zamboanga City left Sulu Provincial Election Supervisor Vidzfar Amil Julie unharmed, but his brother Nasser, 57, was shot in the head when motorcycle-riding gunmen opened fire at their vehicle in Barangay Sta. Maria. The officer's brother was brought to a hospital but later succumbed to his wounds.
Investigators have leads pointing to politicians behind the ambush, Garcia said.
"More or less, they already have a lead on who might be behind this. And more or less, it involves politicians, as there were many requests from them that were not granted," Garcia said in mixed English and Filipino.
"These requests, according to the belief of our provincial election supervisor, would have ensured unequal opportunities for candidates in a certain part of the province of Sulu," he added.
Without naming who, Garcia said some politicians have approached the Comelec to demand the transfer of polling precincts in their area and lists of voters with their photos.
Some turn hostile when turned down, Garcia added.
"If you don’t grant their requests, the Comelec officers are accused of siding with the opponent… they’ll threaten or harm our people. That’s how some politicians think," the Comelec chairperson said.
"Some requested a voter list with pictures. We absolutely won’t provide that under any circumstances. Why? It would violate data privacy," Garcia added.
The poll chief said Julie will remain in his post despite the attack. "We will not remove our provincial election supervisor because doing so would only show that Comelec is afraid, making it seem like the ambush was successful," he said.
Garcia called the targeting of officials' families particularly disturbing. He said he has requested the Department of Interior and Local Government and the police to swiftly arrest those responsible for the ambush.
"Mas kahindik-hindik at mas karima-rimarim, na nadadamay ang mga taong hindi naman yung mismong inaaway nila (It’s even more horrifying and appalling when people involve those who aren’t even the ones they’re in conflict with)," Garcia added.
Sulu's classification. Despite the incident, the Comelec chairperson said Sulu will not be classified as an "area of concern" — a designation for places with concerning levels of election-related violence. The classification has three tiers, with the highest "red" category allowing for areas to be placed under Comelec control.
Under Comelec control, the poll body takes direct supervision of local law enforcement and government officials to maintain peace and order during elections. The designation is reserved for areas with serious armed threats, intense political rivalry, or history of election-related violence.
Garcia said it would be "unfair to the economy ... and the LGU of the area itself" if Sulu is tagged as an area of concern over a "single incident of violence." He said Sulu has been generally peaceful, especially in the last elections.
"We cannot stop people from committing crimes. That’s true across the whole country," Garcia said.