Kalinga now under Comelec control

BAGUIO CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has placed Kalinga under its control due to the presence of armed groups in the Cordillera province.

Armando Velasco, Comelec director for the Cordillera Administrative Region, said Chairman Benjamin Abalos decided to put Kalinga under their direct control to avert any untoward incidents in the run-up to the May 14 elections.

On Black Saturday, Rommel Diasen, an independent gubernatorial candidate, was killed while delivering his speech during a campaign sortie in Magnao, Tabuk town.

Diasen’s widow, Floyd, has reportedly substituted for her husband, but Comelec officials said this is not allowed for independent candidates.

Both lawyer Thomas Uyam and Kalinga police director Senior Superintendent Severino Cruz see this problem as a possible flashpoint in Kalinga politics.

Records of the Comelec-Kalinga office showed that Diasen was actually an independent, contrary to earlier reports that he belonged to the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats or the Partido ng Masang Pilipino.

Authorities fear that the insistence of Mrs. Diasen to run might trigger hostilities between her camp and her rivals’.

The Diasens are originally from Mt. Province, while their opponents are from Kalinga.

The Comelec earlier considered placing the towns of Tanudan, Lubuagan, Tinglayan, Pasil and Pinukpuk under its control.

Uyam said these towns have a history of election violence and attempts at poll cheating.

Cruz hailed the decision of the Comelec to place Kalinga under its control, saying the move would allow them to field more troops to secure polling precincts.

He said they are short of 120 policemen so two lawmen could be deployed in every polling center.

Cruz added that they also need 15 Army teams to augment policemen in far-flung areas.