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Monday, May 17, 2004
Post-poll violence breaks out: 4 killed
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Four civilians were killed Saturday in a post-election shootout that occurred when military troops were about to transport two hotly contested ballot boxes in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat.
The four were identified as Marcos Sali, Kalak Mangelen, Mastura Beng and Kentol Sapi, all supporters of mayoralty candidate Mohammad Paglas.
Brig. Gen. Agustin Dema-ala, chief of the Army's 604th Infantry Brigade based in the province, said his men were on their way out of the Columbio town hall bringing with them the contested ballot boxes when they heard a loud explosion followed by a burst of gunfire.
The ballot boxes were to be brought to Sultan Kudarat's capital town of Isulan upon orders of Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials who decided to transfer the canvassing of election returns there following threats on the life of municipal election officer Lumina Pangamadon.
Hundreds of civilians reportedly attempted to stop Army troops from transporting the ballot boxes out of the municipal hall.
When it came to the point that someone from the group fired at the troops, Col. Jerry Jalandoni, 604th IB deputy chief, said they immediately took cover and returned fire.
He said that after about two minutes into the shootout, the four victims were seen lying on the ground.
He said they are still determining as to who started the firefight.
Paglas, however, accused Columbio policemen of shooting his four supporters, claiming it was deliberate and planned.
He accused Columbio police of supporting incumbent Mayor Edwin Bermudez.
As of Sunday afternoon, the canvassing in Columbio did not yet resume even after the two hotly contested ballot boxes were returned to the municipal hall.
Dema-ala said tension is still high with hundreds of civilians from both camps barricading the area.
Bermudez, Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) candidate, accused Paglas of Lakas-CMD of being behind the move to transfer canvassing to Isulan.
"We want the canvassing of the remaining election returns here. We are afraid that if it will be transferred to Isulan, the final outcome would be different. And at least here, the people will really witness as to who will emerge as winner," Bermudez said.
"We have information they want it transferred so they would have a chance to rig the outcome of the local elections," he claimed.
Based on the final but unofficial results released by the local National Citizen's Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), Bermudez is ahead of Paglas by just 974 votes.
Bermudez garnered 5,142 votes over Paglas's 4,168. The other candidate, Ruben Novestera (Kampi), was far behind with only 287 votes.
Columbio, which the military earlier classified as an area of concern, has a total of 13,960 registered voters from 16 barangays. (With Nelson C. Bagaforo)
(May 17, 2004 issue)
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Namfrel: No sign of massive election fraud