The Commission on Elections (Comelec), through its deputized law enforcement agencies, is validating the connection between several violent incidents and the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Elections (BSKE) in 2023.
The Comelec has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to create task forces for conducting a thorough probe into the murder of barangay officials in Libon, Albay and Midsayap, North Cotabato last week.
On August 28, the chairman of Barangay Jose in Libon town, Alex Repato, was gunned down by suspected members of a private armed group hours after he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for BSKE 2023.
Prior to Repato’s killing, unidentified suspects killed Barangay Nogpo Councilor Relly Saraba Mata and her husband Alfredo in Libon town.
Barangay Captain Oscar Maronilla of San Pascual village in Libon and Barangay Kagawad Salvador Olivares of Bariw were also killed recently.
The Comelec said these incidents cannot be considered election-related as they happened before the beginning of the election period on August 28.
Aside from the formation of the task force, the Comelec also ordered the augmentation of police forces with 150 personnel and 80 special action force troops in Libon, Albay alone, as well as the provision of two PNP security to all aspirants for punong barangays in the said town.
Punong Barangay Aspirant Haron Dimanes in Malingaw, Midsayap, Cotabato was also killed on August 29 following the filing of COC.
The Comelec, however, ruled that the killing of Dimanes is not related to the election as rido is seen as the motive of the incident.
The poll body also declared that the deaths of barangay watchmen in Cainta, Rizal and the ambush that resulted in injury to four policemen in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, which all happened within the election period, are also not related to the BSKE.
The Comelec also ordered the establishment of law enforcement hotlines 24/7 and the activation by the AFP of 100 Cafgus and other reservists to provide additional security in the said areas.
Meanwhile, the PNP arrested a total of 216 individuals, including 211 civilians, two security guards and two AFP personnel, amid the implementation of the gun ban. (SunStar Philippines)