Rama opposes plan to put south under Comelec Control

Vice Mayor Michael Rama yesterday opposed the proposal to place the city’s south district under the Comelec control because this will only give the wrong impression that Cebu City is facing serious peace and order problem.

"Magtoo ang katawhan sa ubang lugar nga dili diay nindot puy-an ang dakbayan sa Sugbo nga giila gani nga Harang Dakbayan sa Habagatan," said the vice mayor, who is running for reelection.

Placing a particular area under Comelec control would mean that any movement of government troops must need prior clearance from the Comelec.

Among the grounds for placing an area under Comelec control is the peace and order situation brought about by intense political rivalry of candidates, sightings or presence of armed men, and a place’s history of violent incidents in the past elections.

Rama, who also heads the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, suggested in turn to put the entire district under "full police control" instead.

It was Jonathan Guardo, vying for a congressional seat in the district against reelectionist Rep. Antonio Cuenco, who requested the putting of the district under Comelec control.

Guardo, a former sports consultant of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, contended that it is the way to ensure a peaceful and orderly elections because the armed men allegedly sighted in some barangays in the district have been out to favor the administration candidates.

Rama said the complaint of Guardo about armed men roaming in the mountain barangays of the city’s south district has been dealt with already after more city policemen were sent there to track down these people.

As of yesterday, the policemen who were sent to barangays Buot-taup, Taptap, Sudlon 1, Sudlon II and other neighboring barangays, have not yet confirmed Guardo’s claim of armed men’s presence there.

It was barangay captain Dante Tabucal of Sudlon 1, an ally of Mayor Osmeña, who first reported the sightings of armed men in his area. Tabucal however stated at the time that it could be the opposition that hired these men to influence voters there.

Guardo however denied insinuations that he was the one who hired the armed men to harass the voters in these mountain barangays to gain their support for his candidacy.

He admitted though that he have some personnel distributing to the mountain folks free capsules for treating arthritis. — Rene U. Borromeo/RAE