Comelec dialogue with candidates eyed to curb poll violence

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said Wednesday he will recommend to the Comelec en banc a scheduled dialogue with candidates as a measure to curb election-related violence.

Jimenez’s remark came as a barangay chairperson seeking a congressional seat in Quezon City was ambushed along with her companions.

Crisell "Beng" Beltran, Barangay Bagong Silangan chairperson, was pronouned dead on arrival at the Far Eastern University Hospital. Her driver was also killed in the incident while four other occupants of Beltran’s vehicle were wounded. 

Jimenez told GMA News that the incident was “the latest in a long string of violent incidents.”

He expressed concern that the downward trend in election-related violence in precious elections may be reversed in this year's midterm polls.

“Talagang nakakabahala,” he said.

Although Jimenez admits that addressing election-related violent incidents is difficult “kasi ultimately, desisyon yan, yung violence, ng mga tao,” the Comelec will study what it can do to improve how authorities respond to such incidents.

Jimenez said it would help if cases are immediately solved, the perpetrators immediately arrested and punished, weapons confiscated, and candidates give assurances to avoid being involved in violent incidents.

Jimenez stressed that a dialogue between the Comelec and candidates is “inevitable.”

Jimenez also conveyed the Comelec’s deepest sympathies to the families of the victims. — Tina Panganiban-Perez/RSJ, GMA News