Comelec control of Ligao sought

Legazpi City — The regional police command urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday to place Ligao City in Albay under its control following the gunslaying of the campaign leader of gubernatorial candidate Fernando Gonzalez and his driver last Monday.

Chief Superintendent Jaime Lasar, Bicol police director, said their recommendation is meant to prevent untoward incidents in Ligao City as a result of the killing of Ruben Quililan, 43, and his driver, Jeremias Lladones, 44, in a hardware store.

Lasar, however, clarified that the regional police is not pre-empting any decision that the Comelec will take after it has assessed the peace and order situation in Ligao.

"Of course, we are only recommending but it’s up to the Comelec to make the final decision," Lasar told The STAR in a telephone interview.

Lasar said Ligao is the second area in Bicol that the regional police wants placed under Comelec control. The other one is Masbate province.

Gonzalez, the incumbent mayor of Ligao City, believes that the killing of Quililan and Lladones was politically motivated.

He, however, said the incident will not prevent him from pursuing his gubernatorial bid.

Lasar said a thorough probe on the killing is underway.

"We are still conducting a full investigation to identify the (assassins) and determine the motive of the killing. Not all crime incidents involving political supporters can be easily (considered) as politically motivated," he said.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, demanded the immediate relief of the Albay police director, Senior Superintendent Pedro Tango, due to a series of unresolved killings in the province.

"The provincial director is only protecting one top politician in Albay," he said in an interview with radio station Bombo-Legazpi Tuesday morning.

Gonzalez blamed police laxity for the killing of Quililan and Lladones.

Gonzalez has been mayor of Ligao City for three consecutive terms. It was under his administration that the municipality got its cityhood. — With Celso Amo