Monday, February 05, 2007
Comelec names possible election areas of concern in Iloilo
THE office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the city and province of Iloilo had identified two probable areas of concern in the forthcoming local and national elections in May.
Lawyer Elizabeth Doronila, Provincial Election Supervisor and concurrent City Election Officer IV, said that included among the list of probable areas of concern are the municipalities of Estancia and Igbaras.
Doronila said Estancia was identified as probable area of concern due to possible intense political rivalry in the mayoral race and the town of Igbaras due to previous reports of the presence of insurgents in the area.
However, Doronila said the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are now trying to neutralize the areas.
Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has instructed the PNP to map out in detail all potential election hotspots, disarm any private armies and help the Comelec enforce clean, honest, and peaceful elections.
As of February 2, Doronila said her office has no record yet of candidates who filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COC) to formalize their bids in any local elective position in the city and province of Iloilo.
The filing of COC started last January 15 and will end on February 12 for senators and party-list representatives. They can campaign from February 13 to May 12.
Those who intend to run in the House of Representatives and other local positions have until March 29 to file their COCs with the campaign period starting on March 30 and ending also on May 12.
Doronila said they are currently firming up the certified list of voters in Iloilo.
In the Comelec prescribed period of activities for this year's elections, the last day to file petition for exclusion of qualified voters in the local registry is February 2 and the posting of the certified voters (local) is set on February 13.
With three months before the May elections, Doronila said, so far the city and province of Iloilo is generally peaceful. (PIA)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (February 3, 2007 issue)
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