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Thursday, February 05, 2004
Guv okay with Danao, Sogod under Comelec control
By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
IF PLACING Danao City and Sogod town under Comelec control will ensure the holding of a “clean, honest and orderly elections,” then Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia is supporting the proposal.
He is yet to discuss with Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Maximo Calimlim the peace and order situation in the province, but Garcia said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is in the best position to make an assessment aside from the police and the military.
Under the Constitution, Garcia pointed out, it is the responsibility of Comelec to determine all laws on the conduct of elections.
Opposed
Former mayor Jesus “Don” Durano, Danao City’s opposition candidate for mayor, and former vice mayor Dean Severo Dosado, who is running for mayor in Sogod, oppose the proposal to declare their areas under Comelec control.
They both believe that it will put them at a disadvantage because Comelec will be under the control of the incumbent mayors.
However, Garcia said in a press conference yesterday that the claim of both candidates is still subject to proof.
“I still have trust in the Comelec,” the governor added.
Earlier, Don, who is running against Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III, announced he will boycott the elections if Danao City is placed under Comelec control.
It was Nito’s son, Rep. Ace Durano (Cebu, 5th), who asked Comelec to consider placing Danao City under the commission’s control.
Ace said Don’s apprehension is unlikely, and that there is no basis to say they can control the Comelec and the military.
“They think highly of us if they believe we can really do that,” Ace said.
Comelec and the PNP have included both places under the list of “areas of concern.”
An area may be declared so if there is an intense political rivalry, a history of election-related violence in the two previous elections and if there are armed men present.
Upgrade
Calimlim, in a separate interview, said the classification of an area may be upgraded to an “area of immediate concern” and would then be declared a hotspot or under Comelec control as election day nears.
They are expected to submit to the Police Regional Office 7 an update of their assessment every two weeks after March 25, the start of the campaign period for all elective positions in the May 10 polls.
(February 5, 2004 issue)
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