Cotabato may be placed under Comelec control  

MANILA, Philippines — Cotabato City may be added to the list of areas to be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) due to violent incidents related to the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Oct. 30.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the city was classified under ”red” or election area of grave concern following the killing of two candidates for barangay council member and their supporter on Tuesday.

Garcia said the incident was confirmed as being election-related.

He expressed concern over the incident even as he welcomed the arrest of the alleged perpetrators.

Twelve suspects, including a policeman and a candidate for barangay chairman, were arrested in follow-up operations.

Garcia said the Philippine National Police is pursuing 10 other suspects.

He also called for “swift justice” for a candidate for barangay chairman in Lanao del Sur, who was killed in a gun attack on Wednesday.

Garcia said the Comelec ordered the augmentation of policemen in Lanao del Sur.

The police was also tasked to intensify its campaign against loose firearms in the province.

The Comelec had earlier placed Libon town in Albay under its control after a barangay captain who had just filed his certificate of candidacy was gunned down.

Negros Oriental was also placed under Comelec control due to security concerns following the killing of governor Roel Degamo.

Garcia said the Comelec received of 25 reports of election-related violence nationwide.

More cops deployed in Abra

In Abra, 150 additional policemen were deployed amid reports of election-related violence.

Comelec regional director Rafael Olaño said the poll body does not see the need at this point to place the province under its control.

Olaño said the augmentation of police personnel is  seen as a “remedy.”

The military gave assurance that the problem with private armed groups and rebels in the province have been addressed.

Olaño said election paraphernalia would be delivered early to ensure that elections can be held on time.

Seven election-related incidents have been reported in Abra since the start of the election period on Aug. 28.

Olaño said the situation in the province is stable despite the withdrawal of 250 candidates.

He said a majority of the 250 candidates voluntarily backed out from race to give way to their relatives.

The 55 teachers who begged off from serving during the elections cited health and personal reasons, Olaño added.

In Basilan, 112 policemen will serve as members of the special electoral board in Tabuan Lasa, Al-Barka and Ungkaya Pukan towns as well as in three barangays in Lamitan City, which were declared election areas of concern.

Col. Carlos Madronio, Basilan police director, bared the deployment of the policemen as poll workers during a peace and order council meeting presided by Basilan Gov. Jim Hataman-Salliman yesterday.

Madronio said police should take over the posts due to security concerns, including clan war and intense political rivalry.

He said another 490 policemen would be deployed in the province.

Army battallion sent to Basilan

A battallion of soldiers had been deployed in Basilan, according to 101st Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon.

He said three companies of soldiers from the 11th Alakdan Division based in Sulu arrived the other week while soldiers belonging to the 18th Scout Ranger Company from Bulacan arrived on Monday.

Meanwhile, a reward of P150,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the killer of Francisco Villero, 53, a barangay councilman in Biliboy in Ormoc City.

In Bulacan, two persons were arrested for drawing a gun at a restobar in Barangay Tangos in Baliwag City on Wednesday.

Police said a caliber .45 pistol, a magazine, bullets and a knife were recovered from the suspects. – Miriam Desacada, Ric Sapnu, Roel Pareño, John Unson, Ramon Efren Lazaro