MANILA, Philippines — After the Commission on Elections placed Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte under Comelec control over the weekend, it designated Commissioner Noli Pipo as in-charge over the town.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said Pipo’s power as administrator of Datu Odin Sinsuat is “almost unlimited to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of elections.”
“This is a warning for everyone. Don’t even try the powers of the Comelec,” Garcia added.
In its resolution, the Comelec ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard to deploy a sufficient number of personnel to cover the security of every voting center in the town.
Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac, chief of the Area Police Command in Western Mindanao and concurrent head of the inter-agency Special Task Force BARMM, said the PNP regional, provincial and city mobile forces are ready to support election-related operations and public safety efforts in Datu Odin Sinsuat.