Daraga, Cotabato City placed under Comelec control

MANILA, Philippines — Daraga town in Albay and Cotabato City have been placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in connection with the May polls.

The Comelec approved yesterday the recommendation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to place the two areas under the control of the poll body following the killing of Ako Bicol party-list representative Rodel Batocabe last month  and the bomb explosion in Cotabato City on New Year’s Eve that left scores of people dead and wounded, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, the Comelec is authorized to take control of an area to ensure free, peaceful and orderly and elections.

This means that the poll body can exercise full control and supervision over law enforcement agencies and even political units in the areas.

Poll watchlist

Meanwhile, 10 towns and a city in Bulacan were added to the election watchlist areas of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The towns of Doña Remedios Trinidad, Guiguinto and Marilao are classified under category 1 while Baliwag, Bulakan, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, San Rafael and San Jose del Monte are under category 2, Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, told The STAR.

Those classified under category 1 have barangays where there is a reported presence of communist rebels while intense political rivalries were reported in areas under category 2.

Those listed under category 3 have violent incidents that are election-related.

Renato Magbutay, Comelec-Northern Mindanao director, expressed his reservation on the inclusion of Cagayan de Oro on the poll watchlist that the PNP released on Monday.

Magbutay said the Comelec dissociates itself from the list, noting that the PNP did not consult with the poll body.

Magbutay said he expressed his reservation during the meeting of the Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center at the PNP regional headquarters at Camp Alagar last week.

He said Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon, which are not on the list, have more violent incidents due to atrocities committed by New People’s Army rebels.

Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno said there was no recent violent incident in the city to justify its inclusion on the poll watchlist.

Meanwhile, five persons were arrested in Luzon on Monday for violation of the election gun ban.

Police said Mark John Biccay, a resident of Bangued, Abra, yielded a caliber .38 revolver at a Comelec checkpoint in Barangay Tangadan, San Quintin.

Jayson Andres, 26, allegedly shot his father Melecio, 48, in Barangay Rizal, Cauayan, Isabela while public school teacher Pedro Limos Jr., 41,  reportedly shot his brother-in-law Reynaldo Galsim, 44, in Barangay Poblacion, Aguilar, Pangasinan.

Elias Calansi, 33, was caught carrying a jungle bolo at a karaoke bar in Barangay San Antonio North, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya.

Police said Generoso Platado, 52, threatened to shoot his wife Liza following an argument in Balanga, Bataan.

Loose firearms

In Sultan Kudarat, Mayor Helen Latog of Esperanza town turned over 32 unlicensed firearms to the military on Friday  in support of the government’s Balik Baril Program.

Latog said the guns were collected by barangay captains from their constituents.

Lt. Col. Alvin Iyog, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion commander, received the guns in a ceremony witnessed by local government and police officials. – With Ramon Efren Lazaro, Gerry Lee Gorit, Eva Visperas, Raymund Catindig, Artemio Dumlao, Raffy Viray, Ramil Bajo