Violence mars NegOc’s polls (8:10 p.m.)

Posted on May 14, 2007
Filed Under Bacolod, News |

BACOLOD CITY –- Shooting, strafing, vote buying, harassing voters are among the election-related complaints that hang over Negros Occidental.

In Escalante City, north of Negros Occidental, Eliseo Comawas was gunned down by still unidentified suspects at about 12:30 a.m. Monday in Barangay Libertad.

Comawas body was discovered by his daughter Leah and was reported dead on the spot. He was a local leader of incumbent Mayor Santiago Barcelona.

Provincial Police Director Rosendo Franco said they have in their custody one of the suspects who was identified by Comawas’ companion at the time of the shooting.

Another strafing incident was reported in Moises Padilla town in central Negros. Police reports claim that Mark Garcia, son of incumbent Mayor Jose Garcia, was on his way from an upland barangay when fired upon by still unnamed suspects, allegedly identified with mayoralty candidate, Frank Nazareno.

Police also confiscated at least seven firearms as of presstime, in two separate areas in the province.

Franco said police manned a checkpoint at Manapla town and arrested retired General Nefertito Bayona and two other companions after a search led to the recovery of an armalite and two short firearms.

According to reports, Bayona is allegedly a consultant of incumbent Vice Mayor Agnes Jo who is running as mayor against incumbent, Manuel Escalante.

Police are also verifying Bayona’s claims that the firearms have permits issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In Candoni town, barangay councilman Guilino Hinigaray and tanods Larry Celestial, Gerson Basia, and Larry Evangelista were arrested by the police for carrying a .38 caliber pistol, a .22 caliber, a 357 revolver and another .38 caliber respectively.

Ironically, the four barangay officials were manning a checkpoint they’ve set-up and were searching passers-by when they stopped a group of policemen who were monitoring the area.

Instead of subjecting the police to a search, they were the ones who were searched after police suspected that the checkpoint was illegally set-up and probably used to intimidate and control voters.

In E.B. Magalona town, 35 voters were allegedly terrorized by armed men to prevent them from casting their votes. According to Mayor Alfonso Gamboa, the 35 voters were farmhands in the haciendas owned by Bobby Sabino, Boy Velez, Francis Jalandoni and Raymond Montinola.

Gamboa said based on reports, armed men went house-to-house at about midnight last Sunday and forced indelible ink on the voters’ hands to prevent them from voting. The victims were also given amounts ranging from P200-P500 each.

The mayor named the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) as the culprits, an allegation denied by the rebel group’s national commander, Stephen Paduano, as a lie.

Meanwhile, Provincial Comelec Supervisor Jessie Suarez ordered the voters to go ahead and cast their votes and just bring along a blotter report of the incident.

Suarez also recommended the suspension of Valladolid election supervisor, Jason Sy, whom despite an earlier order of relief, defied instructions and insisted on occupying his post.

In his letter to Comelec Commissioner Ressurecion Borra, Suarez said he is recommending that Sy to be replaced by Renato Patriarca and sought for the investigation of Sy and his suspension if proven to have violated any laws.

Sy was suspected of having biases after overriding the order of the Comelec not to include in the voters list some 946 persons in Valladolid. The same case seeking for the inclusion of the 946 was filed before the Municipal Trial Court in Valladolid and was approved by Judge Manuel Limsiaco last Saturday.

However, Suarez said the Comelec ruling is final and executory pending appeal by the petitioners and thus should be followed by Sy. He also said a person identified with incumbent Mayor Ricardo Presbitero offered him money least week if he will agree to allow the 946 to vote.

In general, the Comelec and police said the entire process, despite reports of violence, has been “manageable.” Suarez said he expects, based on previous election results, that voters’ turnout could run between 80-85 percent.

Negros Occidental still stands as the third vote-rich province in the country outside of Metro Manila with almost 1.5 million voters.

Surprisingly, Pulupandan town which has been identified as the hottest spot in Negros was “very quiet” according to Franco. The police and Comelec have set-up a satellite office in the area to address possible violence and even deployed an Armor Personnel Carrier to subdue any threat of violence.

However, just before polls were closing, there have been no reports of violence in the area to the relief of the authorities.

Suarez said they are estimating to finish the canvassing of votes for the entire province in five days time.(Sun.Star Bacolod)

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