PB seeks Comelec control of 4th district

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board is asking the Commission on Elections to place the entire fourth district under its control in the coming elections following the strafing incidents in the town of Tabogon.

The 4th district includes the City of Bogo and the towns of Tabuelan, San Remigio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Sta. Fe, Bantayan, Madridejos and Tabogon.

"Placing the 4th district under Comelec control will pave the way to ensure the conduct of honest, fair, and safe elections," read the PB resolution sponsored by Board Member Shun Shimura.

Comelec Resolution 3618 allows an area to be declared under Comelec control on the following grounds:

When in any political division, subdivision, unit or area, circumstances such as intense political rivalry between or among candidates, political factions or parties, or the presence of paramilitary forces, private armies or identifiable armed bands widely perceived to have committed terrorism, fraud or other election irregularities in past electoral exercises, or other analogous circumstances, threaten or tend to disrupt the holding of free, peaceful, honest, orderly and credible elections, the Commission may place such political division, subdivision, unit or area under its immediate and direct control.

This stand-by authority shall be exercised by the commission sitting en banc as the need arises.

The Comelec shall take immediate and direct control and supervision over all national and local officials and employees required by law to perform duties and/or comply with certain prohibitions relative to the conduct of the elections in the political division, subdivision, area or unit concerned.

 Exercise full control and supervision over all national and local law enforcement agencies as well as military officers and men assigned or deployed in the political division, subdivision, unit or area concerned.

For immediate and effective control of the political division, subdivision, unit or area concerned, the commission shall exercise its authority through the Commissioner-In-Charge of the Region where Comelec control has been imposed.

The request stemmed from several strafing incidents in town of Tabogon.

Last week, an unidentified armed person opened fired at the house of barangay councilman Nathaniel Cortes in Tabogon.

The police, however, ruled out the possibility that the incident was election related. According to the police, the motive was more of a personal grudge. 

Although the incident was not election-related, Shimura said it should not be an issue to be neglected.

"Strafing incidences have close relation to the upcoming May 9 elections in order to hamper the conduct of an honest and fair election. They pose eminent danger in the conduct of elections…" he said.

 Shimura stressed that it is a "paramount" concern that need to be addressed to ensure a "fair, honest and safe elections."

Provincial Election Supervisor Eliseo Labaria said they cannot place an area either under Comelec control or EWAs without validating the incidents occurred.

"Depende sa pag-validate either gigamit sa paggubot or purely criminal activities," he said. The validation would take at least three days.

The Provincial Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council  has so far classified Bogo City and the towns of Carmen, Dumanjug, Daanbantayan, Medellin, Tuburan, and San Fernando as EWAs or Election Watchlist Areas in Cebu province for the May 2016 election.

To be included in the PNP's list of EWAs, the area should have a history of intense partisan political rivalry, has past incidents that are politically-motivated and election-related, has presence of threat groups such as Abu Sayyaf Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private arm groups of influential politicians, and has a proliferation of firearms in a certain town, municipality or city.

Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador Jr. is meeting all chiefs of police tomorrow for the final election security instructions. (FREEMAN)