‘Put Dimaporo town under Comelec control’

A Lanao del Norte congressman petitioned the Commission on Elections yesterday to put the hometown of the Dimaporo clan under its direct control to prevent irregularities in the May 14 elections.

The town of Sultan Naga Dimaporo (formerly Karomatan) is where the dead and even crocodiles voted in past elections, said re-electionist Rep. Abdullah Mangotara.

"This town has always been notorious as a source of illegal voters. Election figures there defy explanation," he said.

He said in 1998, Karomatan had an "incredible" 22,295 registered voters.

Of these, an "equally unbelievable" 21,220 or 95 percent voted, and of those who went to the polls, 21,159 or nearly 100 percent, voted for Gov. Imelda Dimaporo, he added.

He said that in Karomatan, the Dimaporos control the voting and counting of votes.

In fact, even the Supreme Court noted this in the case of Usman vs Comelec, he added.

"Unless Karomatan is placed under Comelec control, there can be no free, peaceful, honest, orderly and credible elections in this town," Mangotara said.

He was joined in his petition by Macabangkit Lanto and Constantino Pepito, both candidates for governor; and Usop Abbas, candidate for vice governor. — Jess Diaz