Poll violence: Cases rise to 46

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded a total of 46 election-related violent incidents in the country since the campaign period began on Jan. 14.

The PNP also reported 1,479 persons have been arrested for violating the nationwide gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) which accounted for the confiscation of 1,217 firearms, 57 explosive devices, and 255 deadly weapons.

As of April 8, the PNP’s National Election Monitoring and Action Center has recorded 46 election related violent incidents in different parts of the country. The NEMAC, however, failed to give specific details where the violent incidents supposedly took place.

But the records include the killings of Quezon province congressional bet Vicente Rabaya, Kalinga Vice Gov. Rommel Diasen as well as the attacks on supporters of candidates in Masbate.

Rabaya was found dead inside his rented Toyota van in Quezon City on March 31 while Diasen was shot dead while giving his speech in Kalinga on Black Saturday.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon ordered all police commanders nationwide to implement tighter security measures during the election period.

Calderon also ordered all police commanders to initiate dialogues between candidates and have them sign peace covenants.

"Based on historical data, we anticipate political rivalry to heat up in perennial election areas of concern," Calderon said.

"Local elections are considered more intense than national elections because supporters of local candidates are usually more involved in the campaign," he noted.

Calderon said that even if violence erupts despite the preemptive measures in place, he assured the PNP is ready to address the problem swiftly.

Calderon said he would hold all unit commanders accountable under the doctrine of command responsibility for negligence or inaction in preventing election violence.

"I will not hesitate to relieve and place under investigation any unit commander who will fall short of expectation in performing his election duty," Calderon warned.

Calderon issued a memorandum canceling all leaves of police personnel which took effect on April 1, 2007 to ensure maximum availability of policemen for election duty.

"We are putting our best foot forward at this coming electoral exercise with same intensity and enthusiasm as the other major events that we have handled," Calderon said.

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The PNP chief said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) may still be tapped to assist in maintaining the peace during the elections.

Calderon stressed the possibility of tapping the AFP anew and deputize military units, particularly in areas of increased insurgent activities.

Calderon also assured the PNP is ready to address the threat of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels during the elections and the threat posed by private armed groups.

"The full might of the PNP will meet all these threats head-on," Calderon said.

He said the police would be more effective in addressing these threats with the active support from the AFP.

PNP Directorate for Operations chief Director Wilfredo Garcia said some specific units of the AFP can be deputized to assist the PNP in the security of the elections.

"We will be recommending some units of the AFP to assist us in the security. However, the AFP can operate on their own not very near the polling place but for purposes of conducting ISO (Internal Security Operations), this is not included in the prohibition of the Comelec," Garcia added.

"If there are AFP elements, let’s say one or two kilometers away from the polling places, they can conduct operations there against the NPA even without Comelec authorization," he said.

The military top brass repeatedly announced against participating in the coming elections to prevent another election cheating scandal after the 2004 polls implicated four of its high ranking generals, including now AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.

On the other hand, Calderon said the PNP is closely evaluating the security situation in several provinces identified as "election areas of concern (EAC)."

He admitted seriously considering some of these areas to be placed under Comelec control.

"I will strongly recommend that some perennial trouble spots be placed under the control of the Comelec to ensure that all election security measures will be effectively implemented with the total cooperation of the concerned local government units," Calderon said.

Calderon cited in particular the recent spate of violent incidents in Masbate where historically violent political rivalry has been prevailing, and lately aggravated by hostile activities of the communist rebels in the island province.

"Some of these NPA members actually double as private armies or armed goons for some candidates or political interest groups," Calderon claimed.

Aside from Masbate, the PNP is keeping close watch on nine provinces listed as election areas of concern which included Cagayan, Isabela, Abra, Nueva Ecija, Western Samar, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, and Basilan.

Also being closely watched is the province of Kalinga, following the killing of Vice Gov. Rommel Diasen last Saturday.

At the start of the 150-day election period for the May 14 polls, Comelec has placed the entire province of Abra under its control.

Elections in Abra will be between the groups of widows, orphans and other victims of political violence and the camp of Gov. Vicente Valera and his political allies who have long dominated politics in the province.