Misamis Occidental, Abra town placed under Comelec control

MANILA – Five days before the May 9 national and local elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday placed the province of Misamis Oriental and the town of Pilar in Abra under its control.

Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said the decision to place the two areas under their control was based on the unanimous recommendation of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and local election officers.

“I invoked my emergency power under Comelec Resolution No. 10777 to declare an area under Comelec control in urgent and meritorious cases. This is the first time that I exercise my emergency power considering the proximity of the elections which is only five days from now kailangan maaksyunan ito agad (this needs immediate action). I relayed our concern to the PNP Chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos for immediate action and he assured me na aaksyunan ito kaagad (that this will be acted upon immediately),” Pangarungan told reporters after the multi-agency send-off and turnover ceremony of security forces for the May 9 polls at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

“These areas have been riddled with election-related violence as we approach the May 9 election. The Comelec will not stand idly by while this is happening… The residents in areas under Comelec control should not be wary in such a status as the declaration will ensure that there will be clean, honest, peaceful and orderly election. The declaration is designed to facilitate the freedom of each and every voter to cast their ballot without fear for their life and limb,” he added.

Pangarungan also ordered the relief of all police personnel assigned in Pilar, Abra after receiving report on apparent bias, threats and intimidation to supporters of several candidates there.

“The recommendation is to relieve the entire police force in Pilar and that will include the chief of police. Basta palitan na lang yung entire police detachment sa Pilar para magkaroon tayo ng peaceful, orderly and honest elections (It is better to relieve the entire police force in Pilar to ensure peaceful, orderly and honest elections),” he said.

Carlos said they will heed the Comelec’s order immediately.

“When I receive (the) information, I immediately have it validated by the field commanders. I just texted Regional Director Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee that effective immediately, we will remove all Pilar, Abra MPS (Municipal Police Station) personnel and will be immediately replaced,” Carlos said during the press conference.

On March 29, a shootout ensued after the vehicle carrying Pilar Vice Mayor Jaja Josefina Disono refused to stop at a police checkpoint. One of Disono’s security aides was killed in the incident.

Pangarungan said Misamis Occidental was also placed under Comelec control because of the recommendation by members of the regional joint security control center composed of the regional election director.

“They were unanimous in recommending that the province of Misamis Occidental be declared under Comelec control because of their fear na baka mag-spillover yung mga related na violence in the province and ibang mga municipalities (that election-related violence may spillover to other municipalities of the province),” he noted.

Under Comelec Resolution 10757, an area may be placed under Comelec control if it has a history of/or current intense political rivalry which may result to violence; has a presence of private armed groups which may sow violence during the election period; and serious armed threat from the communist group and other local terrorist group that may disrupt the holding of free, peaceful, honest, orderly and credible elections in any political division, subdivision, unit or area.

The Comelec declared 104 municipalities and 14 cities under grave concern ahead of the upcoming elections.