558 spots under election watch

MANILA, Philippines - Political killings have intensified and police are watching 558 cities and municipalities for election-related violence.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said of the 558 cities and municipalities being watched, 118 are located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“We have to infuse additional personnel and intelligence gathering in these areas,” he said.

Verzosa said those areas have a history of political violence, where partisan armed groups operate and political rivalries are intense.

More checkpoints will be set up in these areas starting Jan 10, the start of the nationwide gun ban, he added.

Verzosa said each joint security control center will be headed by a ranking police, military and Commission on Elections (Comelec) official in the area.

All operations related to political violence, such as the conduct of checkpoints and the serving of search warrants, will be coursed through the Joint Security Control Center (JSCC), he added.

Earlier police tagged as election areas of concern the provinces of Abra, Basilan, Sulu, Ilocos Norte, Lanao del Sur, Masbate, Nueva Ecija, Samar and Maguindanao.

Yesterday, the PNP added the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Sarangani, Zamboanga Sibugay, Antique and Eastern Samar to its list of hot spots.

In western Mindanao, the military has identified five towns as potential hot spots during the campaign period and the May 10 elections.

Troops and police have stepped up security in these towns in coordination with the Comelec, according to Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief.

Dolorfino said previous incidents and the political parties in Basilan and Sulu are the basis in listing the two provinces as hotspots.

Security in the two provinces was also tightened due to the presence of private armed groups, including the Abu Sayyaf and rebel forces, he added.

Chief Superintendent Angelo Sunglao, Zamboanga Peninsula police director, said at least five towns in the three Zamboanga provinces were being monitored in connection with the May 10 elections.

Sunglao identified them as Buug town in Zamboanga Sibugay; and La Libertad, Sibuco, Sirawai, Siocon, and Baliguian towns in Zamboanga del Norte.

However, areas in mainland Zamboanga Peninsula have no reported presence of private armies except for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front, he added.

The police, military and Comelec will conduct a general conference to finalize the security details in the area and ensure the peaceful conduct of elections, Sunglao said.

Police watch armed groups

Verzosa said police are watching 68 partisan armed groups nationwide, 25 of which are in the ARMM.

“We can never wash our hands of any election-related violent incident that will happen anywhere, especially if partisan armed groups are involved,” he said.

“Our long experience tells us that most, if not all, violent incidents that occur during election periods were perpetrated, and will still be perpetrated, by these armed goons, unless we work hard together to dismantle them.”

Verzosa said police will go after partisan armed groups once they have been identified and appropriate charges will be filed against their members and protectors in court.

Partisan armed groups are comprised of a minimum of two armed persons serving as bodyguards to politicians, he added.

Political killings continue

In Cotabato province, suspected partisans gunned down yesterday a candidate for councilor in the politically troubled Banisilan town.

Bommex Sulah, 37, was on his motorcycle on his way home from a meeting with supporters at the town center when two gunmen on a motorcycle blocked his path and opened fire with caliber .45 pistols.

Sulah had just moved to the Nacionalista Party from the pro-administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

A friend, re-electionist Councilor Gafur Amur, said he is certain the murder of Sulah was politically motivated.

“He was a very popular candidate,” he said. “Sadly, he was killed even before the campaign period could start.”

At least six empty shells from a caliber .45 pistol were recovered from the crime scene.

In Pangasinan, a 60-year-old municipal assistant elections officer was wounded when gunmen riding in tandem on a motorcycle shot him on Wednesday afternoon.

Investigation showed Juanito Villarba was on his motorcycle along the national road in Barangay San Alejandro, Sta. Maria town when he was shot.

Villarba sustained a bullet wound on the lower back.

Recovered at the scene were two deformed slugs and two spent shells from caliber .45 bullets.

In Vigan City, a barangay councilor running for the town council in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur was ambushed at Poblacion Norte on Tuesday.

Artemio Tugade, 56, who was reportedly heading towards a meeting with political leaders, did not survive the second attempt on his life.

The killers were riding in tandem on a motorcycle.

Senior Superintendent Eduardo Dupale, Ilocos Sur police director, has ordered an investigation into the killing.

More policemen from the Second Police Mobile Group were sent to Sta. Maria to avert more killings.

Endangered political species?

NP president Manuel Villar Jr. is alarmed over the killing of NP candidates in various provinces nationwide.

“We are just on the seventh day of the New Year and we already have lost four of our local candidates to assassinations,” he said.

“Have we become an endangered political species?”

Villar urged the Comelec and police to rid the “climate of violence” in “hot spot areas” where candidates with no chances of winning resort to force.

“Authorities should act now,” he said.

“As the weather gets hotter, so do the elections. If the killings continue then the campaign against private armies was all press release,” he added in Filipino.

In a statement, Villar identified the slain NP candidates as Cipriano “Bobong” Albores, Barangay Chairman Wilbert “Dodong” Origines, ABC president and NP candidate for vice mayor in Taganaan town, Surigao del Norte; Barangay Chairman Jo-en Caniete-Diego, NP candidate for councilor in Dingras, Ilocos Norte; and Julio “Bimbo” Esquivias, NP candidate in Casiguran, Sorsogon, a retired police officer.

“Because they can’t be beaten fair and square they were beaten in a manner most foul,” he said.

“That is tragic repeating story of our so-called democracy: Those who have no chances of winning through the ballot are resorting to the bullet.

“(The) gains in computerizing the elections are cancelled by the primitive way local election contests are settled.

“We may be able to modernize the way we vote and count the vote but can we really claim progress if some of us still resort to the Stone Age practice of just bludgeoning the opponent?”

Military: Honest, peaceful polls on May 10

The military assured the nation yesterday of an honest, orderly, credible and peaceful elections on May 10.

Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz Jr., Armed Forces Civil Relations Service chief, said the Comelec has ordered the military and police to strictly enforce the gun ban, provide security to candidates and set up checkpoints during the campaign period.

“To synchronize the AFP and PNP actions, a Joint Security Control Center (JSCC) shall be established at the regional, provincial and city levels by Jan. 10,” he said.

Cruz said yesterday’s signing of the AFP-PNP-Comelec Joint Letter Directive has set the role of the military and police in the coming elections.

“We believe in the sanctity of the electoral process, and being a bastion of democracy, we are taking our deputized role with utmost consideration with respect for human rights and the right of the people to vote freely and without intimidation,” he said.

Cruz said the military is also conducting briefing for troops about their role in the elections.

“We are emphasizing to our troops that even as we are directed by the Comelec with certain tasks, the only political act that we shall undertake is to vote,” he said.

Soldiers who defy the standing Comelec-PNP-AFP Joint Letter of Directive face general court-martial, Cruz said.

Campaign vs loose firearms

Verzosa said the police campaign against loose firearms is continuing.

“Based on our observations for the past year, usually there are reports of buying and transfer of illegal firearms before elections,” he said.

“Lately, we have not received reports of new transactions.”

Verzosa said the law on illegal gun possession must be amended to make the holding of three or more guns a non-bailable offense.

“It is very important that the amendment to the present firearms law be passed. If we do not raise the penalty, those who brandish guns will get more brazen,” he said. -With Roel Pareño, John Unson, Edith Regalado, Christina Mendez, Cesar Ramirez, Artemio Dumlao, Jun Elias, Eva Visperas, Jaime Laude