ON THE heels of the killing of Barangay Bagong Silangan chairwoman and congressional candidate Crisell Beltran, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday, February 4, that Quezon City will most likely be considered an “area of concern” for the forthcoming midterm elections.
In a television interview, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said it is almost a guarantee that Quezon City will be under close watch by the Philippine National Police.
“For sure, Quezon City will be an area of concern since a political violence occurred,” said Jimenez. “That is for sure.”
Beltran was killed in an ambush in Quezon City on January 30. Four suspects in the killing were arrested on Friday, February 1.
As to the possibility of Quezon City being placed under Comelec control, Jimenez said such a possibility remains unlikely for now, as the National Capital Region Police Office said it is not recommending such for the city.
“That’s understandable because, so far, that is one incident (Beltran killing),” he said.
“There remains a long way to go before it reaches the level of needing to be placed under Comelec control,” added Jimenez.
Last January, the Comelec placed Daraga in Albay and Cotabato City under its control on the heels of the recent violence in the two areas. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)