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Friday, April 30, 2004
More troops deployed to 9 towns in trouble
By Jun Feliciano
* Election-related incidents resulted to 4 killed, several others hurt
* Violent incidents occur in 2nd District of ZDS, involving two political rival groups with candidates vying for the congressional seat
* Seven of the 67 election-related incidents recorded in the country occur in the region
* Notorious Kuratong Baleleng gang members from Misamis Occidental reportedly hired to harass certain barangays
THE PNP augmented its troops in nine towns in Zamboanga Peninsula region, where election-related incidents have threatened to become bloody as the election nears.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 9 Director Servando Hizon augmented police troops where election-related violent incidents in the region resulted to four persons killed and several others hurt.
Hizon, in an interview yesterday, specifically cited the Second District of Zamboanga del Sur, where the latest election-related incident was reported, involving two political rival groups supporting their respective candidates vying for the congressional seat there.
The bloody incident erupted in the town of Dumalinao, where a strafing was reported, according to Hizon. At least two lives were lost in the said incident, according to a police report.
"The situation there is very intense due to political parties vying for the congressional seat. But we can manage to prevent any further bloodshed in close coordination with the AFP. We are presently conducting a thorough investigation on the incident," Hizon disclosed.
He said he already directed the police in the area to identify and arrest the culprits involved in the Dumalinao incident.
Earlier, PNP Director General Hermogenes Ebdane alerted Hizon as the former was alarmed by the increase in the number of election-related violent cases in the Hizon's area of responsibility lately.
Ebdane's spokesman, Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao, said a total of 67 election-related incidents have, so far, been recorded in the country with seven coming from Western Mindanao.
The areas under close watch due to intense political rivalries that might ultimately be placed under Comelec control, if being considered as hot spots by the Comelec are the following: Buug and Bayog in Sibugay province; Dimataling and Dumalinao in Zamboanga del Sur; and Sibuco, Siraway, Siocon, Baliguian and La Libertad, all in Zamboanga del Norte.
Meantime, Hizon ordered his provincial director, Senior Supt. Alvarez Yusop in Sibugay to look into the report reaching his office that a certain mayoralty candidate of Talusan has hired the notorious Kuratong Baleleng gang from Misamis Occidental to harass his political rivals in certain barangays in the area to ensure his victory in the coming May 10 polls in the said island town.
Hizon, in his directive to Yusop, wanted that such report be immediately checked and if found true such hostile act be stopped and the suspects be investigated so that appropriate action can be taken against them.
"I directed Sr. Supt. Yusop (to make sure) that no such incident will occur in his AOR," Hizon disclosed.
The Comelec Regional Office under Atty. Helen Aguila Flores is expected to identify the so-called "Areas of Concern," otherwise known as "hot spots" following their two-day consultation meeting last Wednesday with other concerned agencies, including the deputized police and military forces, presided over by Comelec Commissioner Manuel Barcelona Jr.
Also falling under the AOR of the Comelec Regional Office here are the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-tawi, and Basilan, all part of the Armm.
Eyed by the Comelec to be also placed under its control are Indanan in Sulu and Tipo-tipo in Basilan.
Tipo-tipo Mayor Joel Matural has revealed that, at least, six barangays in his town are allegedly being harassed by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels as they reportedly opposed the presence of teachers who will be assigned as Board of Election Inspectors BEIs) in the area this coming elections.
(April 30, 2004 issue)
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