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Friday, May 07, 2004
Comelec control asked for 3 sites
By Karen M. Flores
CEBU -- Put Danao City and Madridejos and Santander towns under Comelec control on May 10, the provincial offices of the Comelec and PNP, as well as election monitor C-Cimpel, recommended Thursday afternoon.
In a letter faxed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila, Provincial Election Supervisor Edwin Cadungog, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Maximo Calimlim Jr. and C-Cimpel Chairperson Marilu Chiongbian said the "volatile situation in these areas may erupt anytime."
This will "tend to disrupt the holding of free, peaceful, honest, orderly and credible elections," the officials further said.
Naga town, which was originally in the list, was recommended for the "augmentation of forces" only.
Toledo City, which Director Salud Aliganga of Comelec 7 earlier said would also be recommended for Comelec control, was not in the list at all.
In their peace and order reports, the election officers in the two towns and one city all noted intense political rivalry as one of the compelling reasons for identifying these as areas of immediate concern.
Danao Election Officer Enerio Ocariza Jr. said there are thousands of loose firearms in the northern component city and that these have allegedly been distributed.
Ocariza further noted that the activities of the Communist New People's Army there have been increasing. He mentioned reported sightings of their members in at least 13 mountain barangays.
In Madridejos, where a Comelec order stalled the takeover of a new mayor this week, Officer-in-Charge Diodema Caranzo said there are armed men who have allegedly been hired from "mainland Cebu and Masbate."
"Unidentified men have been installed in every barangay by a candidate running in the May 10 election." The report did not identify the candidate, nor did it say what the men's purpose could be.
The report, also signed by representatives from the PNP and C-Cimpel, said "various supporters of the present administration threatened and harassed the supporters of their political opponent."
Mayor Lety Mancio, who the Comelec said actually lost in 2001 to Zenaida Salazar, has been able to remain in her post because of an order from the Comelec itself.
This year, Mancio is up against Zenaida's husband Doroteo.
Further, the recommendation notes the presence in the northern island municipality of a police officer who is now apparently assigned in Carcar town.
The policeman "stays in this place when he is off duty, wears a camouflage uniform with his M16 and is for a certain candidate for mayor."
The report noted that Madridejos police officer-in-charge Arsenio Escarda "does not record these incidents in the blotter for reasons we do not know."
In Santander, Acting Election Officer Nelson Lisondra said that even if armed men and goons are not visible now, their presence is "already felt by some."
To ensure victory by the "hotly contesting candidates" in the northern town, "the employment of ways is expected to go beyond the bounds of our laws," Lisondra and PNP and C-Cimpel representatives warned in their report.
Even if there is yet no insurgency threat there, they also noted that the "capabilities" of opposing camps may increase the "probability and likelihood that insurgents may appear on election day."
Santander Mayor Wilson Wenceslao will be facing former congressman Crisologo Abines in his reelection bid this year. Wenceslao defeated then mayor James Arnold Abines in 2001. James Arnold is Crisologo's son who is running for vice mayor this year.
(May 7, 2004 issue)
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