Gaquing tags 7 towns to be "hotly-contested"

CEBU, Philippines - Sr. Supt. Jesus Gaquing, Cebu Provincial Police Office director, has named seven of the 47 towns in Cebu that he will recommend to be tagged as “hotly-contested areas” for the May 2010 elections.

Gaquing said he will request for police augmentation in the seven municipalities from Police Regional Office-7.

The Regional Intelligence Division-7 of the PRO-7, he said, will evaluate the situation of the areas and then forward the request to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to include the areas in the watch list.

Gaquing identified the hotly-contested areas that are subject for confirmation by the PRO-7 as Daanbantayan, Alegria, Bogo, Dumanjug, Madridejos, Ronda and Tuburan.

He said that he listed the said municipalities based on the situation of the past elections where there was intense political rivalry that was noted.

The augmentation forces will be used to help diffuse tension and ensure the peaceful conduct of elections.

The municipalities of Dumanjug and Ronda have been included in the list due to the presence of an organized crime group that is operating in the neighboring towns.

Gaquing said that they expect the situation in Tudela not to be as intense before since Demetrio Granada, who fought tooth and nail with incumbent Mayor Rogelio Baquerfo, will not be running for mayor this time.

Granada, who was ordered to vacate the municipal hall, will be running for councilor this May.

 The CPPO director plans to sit down with the political candidates in the seven municipalities.

He pointed out though that he has not yet received any election-related complaint as of yesterday.

Gaquing said that he expects a very intense rivalry in Bogo between reelectionist Mayor Celestino Martinez, Jr. and philanthropist Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung.

In Daanbantayan, Vice-Mayor Maria Luisa Loot will be running for mayor against their rival Francisco Corro.

The elections in Dumanjug will have Nelson Garcia, brother of Governor Gwen Garcia, facing off with Councilor Contrano Gica for mayor.

Mayor Rosemarie Suezo and Aljun Diamante will fight for the mayoralty position in Tuburan while Mayor Esteban Sia and Vice-Mayor Nonie Blanco will clash for the same position in Ronda. — Niña G. Sumacot with reports from Guam Logroño of Banat News/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)