Poll hot spots in South Cotabato identified

KORONADAL CITY — Police have identified four towns in South Cotabato as potential hot spots in the coming May 2007 elections due to its history of violence and the emergence of possible political contenders.

Newly-installed South Cotabato police director Senior Superintendent Robert Kiunisala told The STAR that the possible hot spot areas in the province are the towns of Tampakan, Polomolok, Surallah and T’boli.

Kiunisala said they considered the towns as "hot spots" due to recorded poll-related violence in previous elections.

In 2004, a certain Gregorio Banal, a losing mayoralty bet in Tampakan town, was gunned down after the elections. Banal lost to Claudius Barroso, who is now the incumbent municipal mayor.

In 2001, Barroso’s eldest son was ambushed at the height of the election campaign.

Kiunisala said intense political rivalries also forced the police to consider Polomolok, Surallah and T’boli as hot spot areas.

South Cotabato election officer Paisal Tanjili, told radio stations here that they are now working closely with the police, military and other law-enforcement agencies to maintain peace and order and to ensure the strict implementation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban. — Ramil Bajo