ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A military official confirmed that an Abu Sayyaf member won as kagawad or councilman in the barangay elections in Basilan last Oct. 25.
Brig. Gen. Eugenio Clemen, outgoing commander of the 1st Marine Brigade based in Basilan, said one of the winners is an Abu Sayyaf member who changed his name to be able to run in the recent polls.
He, however, refused to identify the suspect to avoid hampering ongoing operations to further verify the background of the suspect.
Clemen had earlier revealed that several Abu Sayyaf supporters were able to run in the last barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in some towns in Basilan.
He had coordinated with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other government agencies to verify reports that some of the candidates – both winners and losers – are suspected members of outlawed groups.
The military believed this was not the first time that members of the Abu Sayyaf participated in local elections.
Meanwhile, police authorities said the Abu Sayyaf were involved in the abduction of a 60-year-old businesswoman in Basilan last Tuesday.
Senior Supt. Cristeto Rey Gonzalodo, Basilan police provincial commander, said the suspects have reportedly demanded P3-million ransom in exchange for the release of the victim.
Police identified the kidnappers as followers of Hod Limaya.
The victim was on board a passenger jeepney traveling from Lamitan to Tumahubong when they were accosted by the armed men at about 1:30 p.m. at the boundary of Barangay Cabangalan, Ungkaya Pukan, and Barangay Lagayas Tipo-Tipo.
The victim’s relatives confirmed that they have received the ransom demand of the kidnappers but declined to specify the amount.
Comelec probes delay of poll materials
The Comelec said the agency is having difficulty securing documents, which is hampering the investigation into the reported delay in the delivery of election materials for the last barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in some parts of the country.
Comelec Commissioner Armando Velasco, head of the investigating panel, admitted yesterday that they cannot go full blast in their probe since the poll body’s investigators cannot gather the necessary documents.
“We will try our best (to complete the probe as expected), although at this time we still have to secure so many documents from several people involved so there might be delay,” Velasco said.
Velasco said that a petition to inhibit was filed by Comelec legal department chief and Bids and Award Committee (BAC) chairman Ferdinand Rafanan against James Jimenez, one of the investigating panel’s members.
Velasco said the commissioners would meet next week to decide on the petition against Jimenez.
Rafanan has accused Jimenez of showing bias against the BAC when he said in a radio interview that the committee changed the specification of the ballot paper that caused the delay in the bidding process.
“He (Jimenez) failed to see that the normal period for a public bidding is 28 days but we cut it to seven days and he still calls it delay,” Rafanan pointed out.
Rafanan said Jimenez expressed adverse comments about the P253-million savings as a result of the transparent and honest public bidding undertaken by the BAC in connection with the last political exercise.
Jimenez belied Rafanan’s allegations and maintained that he merely outlined the possible outcomes of the BAC act.
“My response in the interview was factual and did not constitute pre-judgment or bias,” Jimenez added.
Velasco said if the misunderstanding between Jimenez and Rafanan worsens the commisioner might ask Jimenez to inhibit himself from the on-going probe.
The Comelec had formed the special investigating panel that was given 15 days to complete the investigation into the reported delay in the delivery of election materials that eventually resulted in the postponement of elections in more than 2,000 barangays nationwide.
Velasco expressed confidence that the probe would not be affected if Jimenez would be eventually barred from the investigation. - With Mayen Jaymalin