Comelec control eyed in 12 Maguindanao towns

MANILA, Philippines — There are 12 “hotly contested” towns in Maguindanao due to reported violence, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Actually nagbabarilan na sila ngayon, may mga ambush, but hindi pa lumalala,” Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said when asked if the poll body has identified areas of concern in the province.

Pangarungan said the 12 towns, which he did not identify, may be placed under the control of the Comelec if the situation worsens.

The Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had earlier placed Malabang and Tubaran in Lanao del Sur under the control of the Comelec.

Pangarungan said this was due to recorded fatalities involving relatives of mayoral candidates in Malabang and a history of election-related violent incidents in Tubaran.

He said there is still no decision to place Pilar town in Abra, which is under yellow category, under the control of the poll body as recommended by the PNP and officials of the Comelec office in Cagayan Valley.

The Comelec has full control of national and law enforcement agencies, including police and military officers, in areas placed under its control.

Previous declaration of Comelec control in the area, politically motivated violence involving candidates or their supporters, and the presence of private armies and serious armed threat by communist rebels and other armed groups are the other grounds to declare an area under the control of the poll body.

The Comelec is verifying 300 election areas of concern, based on the recommendation of the police and military.

51 poll hot spots in Central Luzon

In Central Luzon, police have identified 51 election areas of concern.

Regional police director Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay said among those under category yellow are the cities of Palayan, San Jose and Cabanatuan and the towns of Cabiao, Cuyapo, Carranglan, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Guimba, Laur, Licab, Llanera, Lupao, Nampicuan, Pantabangan, Penarda, Quezon, Rizal,  San Isidro, Sta. Rosa, Talugtog and Zaragosa, all in Nueva Ecija.

San Fernando, Apalit and Mexico in Pampanga; Olongapo City; Mariveles, and Marilao, San Miguel, Guiguinto, San Rafael, Doña Remedios Trinidad and San Ildenfonso in Bulacan were also identified as election  areas of concern.

San Jose del Monte and Baliuag in Bulacan; Gapan, Muñoz City and the towns of Aliaga, Bongabon, General Natividad, Jaen, San Antonio, San Leonardo, Sto. Domingo and Talavera in Nueva Ecija; Maria Aurora and Limay in Bataan; Camiling in Tarlac and Botolan and San Felipe in Zambales are under category orange or areas of immediate concern.

Comelec assistant regional director Elmo Duque said preparations for the elections in Central Luzon are in full swing.

He said 3,901 Department of Education supervisor officials training support staff, 21,986 members of the electoral board and 548 board of canvassers have undergone a series of training sessions. – Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro