MANILA, Philippines – The province of Abra and Marawi City in Lanao del Sur have been placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“The commission has approved this in principle although there is no resolution yet,” Comelec Commissioner Sheriff Abas said yesterday.
Abas said there was an attempt to kill a mayor seeking reelection in Marawi. “It is really intense there. In the past, there were also killings,” he said.
In Abra, rival candidates have been accusing each other of harassing and threatening their supporters.
Mercedita Bragas, a supporter of San Juan town mayoral candidate Russel Bragas was shot dead two weeks ago while Tineg town Vice Mayor Edwin Crisologo was charged with murder and frustrated murder for the ambush of a town council bet.
Pantar town in Lanao del Sur was the first area placed under the control of the Comelec.
Under Comelec Resolution 10074, an area is placed under the control of the poll body if it has a history of intense political rivalry, presence of private armed groups and loose firearms and threat posed by the New People’s Army, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Abu Sayyaf and other paramilitary forces.
The Comelec will have control and supervision over local officials as well as the police and military in areas placed under its control.
The poll body also has the power to supervise and control the disbursement of public funds, construction of public works and movement of government personnel, among others. – With Artemio Dumlao