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Sunday, March 07, 2004
Talisay execs bothered
By Karen M. Flores
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
TWO officials of Talisay yesterday protested the inclusion of the southern component city in a list of election areas of concern (EACs) due to the alleged presence of insurgents and its history of political violence.
In separate interviews, Mayor Eduardo Gullas and Vice Mayor Lani Abarquez said they are wondering how Talisay could have figured in the list, when both the local police and election officer have not even raised the “concerns” the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 cited in the list it submitted to the Comelec last week.
“I am riled by this report. I hate to imagine this as the work of the police intelligence because there’s something very wrong here. This is outrageous,” Gullas said in a phone interview.
He and Abarquez expressed concern about the report’s effect on the city’s image with investors.
“That list besmirched the reputation of Talisay as a peaceful community. I have been laying the basic infrastructure foundation with a new City Hall, slaughterhouse, a terminal-cum-market and one of the very best detention cells in the Visayas and they say we are an area of concern? They are driving away investors,” Gullas angrily noted.
Gullas also considered the tag a slur on his leadership as he might be accused of failing to maintain peace and order.
No communists
For her part, Abarquez said the label on Talisay will put both politicians and the electorate in an awkward position.
“We will always be wary from now on. Magbantay na lang ta pirmi, we can’t act naturally anymore since it appears that we are supposedly in the midst of armed men,” she said in an interview.
The mayor and vice mayor also agreed that no election-related violent incidents have happened for several elections now in Talisay. The turnout both in registration and voting has been high, Gullas said.
It has also been peaceful so the police has no basis either in identifying Talisay as having a problem with the “communist-terrorist movement,” both officials also said.
“There has never been a single violent incident in previous elections in Talisay City. Nor has there been any report on the presence of communist rebels. Most of all, the mayoral election in May is not going to be hotly contested. So how come, they are calling Talisay an area of concern?” said Gullas, who is seeking a return to Congress as first district representative.
Gullas pointed out that the local police has been recognized for its efforts, especially in the campaign against drugs, notably in Barangay Tangke.
14 areas
In the report PRO 7 submitted to regional officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) 7 last Wednesday, Barangays Tangke and Lawaan 3 were named as areas in the city where there is a problem with the “communist-terrorist movement.”
Gullas also asked Supt. Pablo Florante Lamosao about the recommendation, but the city police chief denied making such a recommendation.
Both Gullas and Abarquez plan to raise their complaints with authorities.
Gullas said he will call PRO 7 Director Rolando Garcia and, if needed, formalize his complaint by writing a letter of protest.
Abarquez, meanwhile, said she will inquire with Talisay City Election Officer Corazon Moran on what can be done to correct the label.
PRO 7’s report listed Talisay as one of three cities in Cebu that are election areas of concern due to the presence of members of the “communist-terrorist movement.”
It was also listed as one of 14 areas in Cebu Province that should be watched for history of election-related violence. With RJ
(March 7, 2004 issue)
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