Central Visayas not in Comelec's areas of concern

Cebu province and Central Visayas are not included in the Comelec list of areas of concern for the May 14 elections, according to the PNP Chief yesterday.

PNP Chief Oscar Calderon, in a press conference, said Cebu was not declared as such because "we know the Cebu spirit and which we have shown in the last Asean Summit, so palagay ko wala itong Cebu."

The PNP had so far identified only the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Abra, and Nueva Ecija in northern Luzon, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao in the southern part of the country.

Calderon said the PNP identified these as areas of immediate concern considering that there have been election-related violence that already occurred, particularly in the north.

In the case of the south, Calderon cited the presence of secessionist groups, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front, which the politicians might use for their election campaign.

Back here in Cebu, Calderon said that there has been no proof yet on the reports that politicians were behind the series of robbery to fund their election campaign.

He said that he has not received any report on the matter but, should there is, the public should report it immediately to the PNP for immediate action.

This the best time that members of the community and the media to act and report an incident of this nature so that the PNP could resolve it, said Calderon, adding that the PNP itself also wants a peaceful and fair election.

On reports about the rebels' requirement from politicians for a "permit to campaign" in the mountains or rural areas, Calderon said that nothing of this sort had occurred in Central Visayas so far.

The PNP had gathered that this happened only in Region 4, Bicol and Caraga regions, Samar provinces, and northern Luzon where, aside from such "permit to campaign", the rebels have also demanded that politicians should ask also for "permit to win."

Both "permit to campaign" and "permit to win" are plain and simple extortion, Calderon said, and that any politician who would abide with these demands from the rebels is equally liable for the crime of rebellion. - Norvie S. Misa