Misamis Occidental, Abra town under Comelec control

MANILA, Philippines — The entire province of Misamis Occidental and Pilar town in Abra have been placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) amid threats to security in the May 9 polls.

Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan made the announcement during send-off and turnover ceremonies for up to 18,672 police personnel and teachers and staff of the Department of Education serving in the elections.

“In line with security and safety concerns and to ensure an orderly and peaceful election, we have declared additional two areas under Comelec control,” he said in his speech, invoking the emergency powers of the poll body under Comelec Resolution 10777.

Pangarungan said Misamis Occidental and Pilar, Abra “have been riddled with election-related violence as we approach the May 9 elections.”

At a press briefing, Pangarungan said he received reports from the Comelec regional office in Cagayan Valley and a petition from the Pilar municipal government on the supposed bias of the local police as well as threats and intimidation against supporters of some local candidates.

Entire police force relieved

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos ordered Cordillera Administrative Region PNP director Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee to replace the entire police force in Pilar as recommended by the Comelec.

“That police station will have about 20 to 30 personnel. Madali naman i-replace ‘yan,” Carlos said. “Hindi magiging problema ‘yan. We can immediately adjust.”

Last month, security personnel of Vice Mayor Jaja Josefina Disono figured in an alleged shootout with policemen at a checkpoint, leaving one of her escorts dead.

In Misamis Occidental, Pangarungan said officials of the Regional Joint Security Control Center were unanimous in recommending that the province be placed under Comelec control to prevent a spillover of violence.

The Comelec had earlier placed Tubaran, Malabang, Maguing and Marawi City in Lanao del Sur under its control.

Also placed under Comelec control are the towns of Buluan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Piang, Mangudadatu, Pandag and Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao.

9,000 C. Luzon PNP personnel

In Central Luzon, the regional police office deployed more than 9,000 personnel, including force multipliers, for election duties yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, regional police director, said PNP personnel doing desk work would also be deployed as augmentation forces on election day.

The Regional Election Monitoring Action Center was reactivated to serve  as a repository of information on all election-related activities.

In Zamboanga City, a send-off ceremony for police, military and Coast Guard personnel to render poll duties was held at Camp Col. Romeo Abendan.

Police and the Comelec have identified 44 election areas of concerns under red and orange categories in Zamboanga peninsula.

Most of the areas under red category or those with intense political rivalry and presence of private armed groups are in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay. – Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu, Roel Pareño, Artemio Dumlao