Comelec places 5 Cebu towns under its control

CEBU — Citing intense political rivalries and terrorist activities, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) placed under its control five towns in the north in anticipation of election-related violence on Monday.

The Comelec, in a May 9 resolution, ordered the deployment of more troops to San Remigio, Bogo, Medellin and Daanbantayan in the fourth district and Sogod in the fifth district.

Danao City, the political bailiwick of the Duranos, was also included in the list of election hot spots the Comelec has released.

The only other election hot spot identified by Comelec in Central Visayas is Canlaon City in Negros Oriental where seven candidates, including the city’s vice mayor, were killed in an ambush last April 28.

In Resolution 4165, the commission cited "political conflicts and histories of election irregularities" as grounds for placing these Cebu areas under its immediate control.

In the same resolution, the Comelec said it received several requests from candidates asking that their areas be placed under its control, in addition to reports from deputized agencies such as the police and military.

"I presume that before the Comelec central office imposed such a resolution, it had sufficient basis. They are not foolish enough to do it without bases. It is possible that the central office also received reports from the police and the military before they declared such areas under Comelec control," said Comelec regional director Juan Peque.

Provincial election supervisor Manuel Advincula, however, said there are no election hot spots in the province, only "areas of immediate concern."

Late last week, the Comelec regional office submitted to its central office a list of places in the province it sees as "areas of immediate concern" during the election.

Aside from towns in the mid-north, the Comelec also considers the municipalities of Samboan and Santander, both in the second district, as areas of immediate concern.

An area of immediate concern, Advincula said, is where the political scenario is "very volatile," that "something may happen any moment."

Advincula said his recommendations were based on police reports, feedback from field personnel and his own ocular inspection in the concerned areas.

Advincula said the fourth district, where the Martinezes are the dominant political figures, has been closely monitored by the police and the military for several months now.

During his stay in Manila, Advincula proposed to Comelec Commissioner Rufino Javier that a "serious evaluation" of certain areas in the fourth, fifth and second districts be conducted.

Advincula said armed men have been sighted in Olango Island which could possibly become a "springboard for election violence." — Freeman News Service