2010 election violence feared in Batanes

BASCO, Batanes , Philippines  – A former top official of the provincial government expressed yesterday his alarm after receiving unconfirmed reports of the shipment of firearms and explosives in preparation for the forthcoming May 2010 elections.

The former official, who requested not to be identified, said the firearms will be shipped by sea.     

“I am alarmed,” he said. “In the 2007 elections, then Congressional candidate Oliver Carlo Diasnes was reportedly ambushed,” he further said.    

“Compounding the situation now is that our local Coast Guard personnel do not have any equipment to inspect cargoes arriving at the Basco pier,” he also said.  

Cargo ships from Manila alternate in coming here every week to bring much needed supplies.   

“There is no way we could detect contraband, much more firearms and explosives,” the former official said.     

Another official said, he laments the seeming helplessness of local authorities to contain peace and order here.    

“Last month, three murder cases were filed by the state prosecutor against three suspects,” this other official said.   

“And yet police and local government officials still claim the province has a zero-crime rate,” he said. – Jack Castaño