Sunday, March 25, 2007 La Libertad declaration as hotspot 'premature' By Victor L. Camion
"TO DECLARE La Libertad town as hotspot area is premature."
Thus, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Oriental clarified in reaction to the statement issued by the Philippine National Police recently.
Provincial Election Supervisor Lawyer Manuel Advincula told Sun.Star Dumaguete that the Comelec en banc is a sole authority to declare La Libertad town as under the Comelec control area or hotspot.
The Comelec en banc, Advincula said, should issue a resolution declaring the town of La Libertad as hotspot area on the basis that a presence of armed group, insurgency, and/or has intense political rivalry.
Advincula, however, admitted that based on police reports furnished to his office, there are basis of declaring the town of La Libertad as hotspot area, but it still needs verification and further study.
"The declaration must not be sudden, except when there is imminent threat that things will go wrong," explained Advincula adding, "Let's just pray that the ambush will not happen again."
He also believed that an ambush-slay in La Libertad that killed seven people was just an isolated case.
Police Provincial Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe earlier recanted previous statement that there is no election hotspot in the province.
The ambush in La Libertad town, he said, can now be considered as indicators in placing the town as election hotspot.
Aside from the ambush incident, the town also has the presence of intense political rivalry.
As this developed, Buenafe clarified they have closely coordinated with the 303rd Brigade of the Philippine Army to prevent a repeat of the incident.
Buenafe also assured the augmentation of the police officers in the town of La Libertad.
He said La Libertad-Philippine National Police (PNP) has 25 active personnel to include two policewomen.
Buenafe said they will not only focus in La Libertad but also in other towns and cities, which have intense political rivalries, especially in areas affected by insurgency.
