‘Place Samar under Comelec control’

MANILA, Philippines - Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan asked yesterday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to place the province under its control, citing the “unprecedented surge” in election-related human rights violations, killings and harassment.

In an 11-page letter to the poll body, Tan said 16 police officials assigned in Eastern Visayas, including Region 8 director Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte and Samar provincial director Senior Superintendent Rommel Bernardo Cabagnot, should be replaced.

“Election-related violent incidents in Samar have reached colossal heights...highlighted by merciless, brutal and senseless killings and massive intimidation, particularly by supporters of the Nacionalista Party (NP),” she said.

Tan is running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition. Her brother Stephen James is running for reelection as vice governor under the NP.

Tan lamented that election-related incidents in Samar were not reported in the media. She said most of the cases occurred in Calbayog City.

Pantar town in Lanao del Norte was the first area to be placed under Comelec control.

Poll watchlist

Meanwhile, at least 51 towns and cities in the Caraga region have been placed on the election watchlist of the police.

Eleven areas in Agusan del Norte, 13 in Agusan del Sur, 11 in Surigao del Norte, 15 in Surigao del Sur and one in Dinagat Islands are on the list, said Chief Superintendent Rolando Felix, Police Regional Police-13 director.

Felix said they would deploy 3,000 additional police officers in the areas. – With Ben Serrano