Valera wants Comelec control in Abra

Abra Governor Vicente Valera, a politician linked to the killing of Rep. Luis Bersamin Jr, has asked the Commission on Elections to place Abra under its control. In a letter to the Comelec, Valera wrote his “urgent appeal" for the poll body to place Abra under its control saying that there is danger that elections there would be violent. Valera, who was linked to Bersamin assassination by a witness who is now trying to recant his testimony, said the Comelec should step in during the election period because of “partisan police" in his province. Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos said that if they grant Valera’s appeal, it will be Commissioner Romeo Brawner who will act as Abra’s officer-in-charge. In previous practices, the Comelec assigns the provincial election supervisor as OIC. Aside from Abra, the Comelec is also studying the possibility of placing Nueva Ecija, Masbate, and Sorsogon under its control, Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer said. In the case of Nueva Ecija, both the Joson and Umali political families have appealed for Comelec intervention, according to Ferrer. Masbate and Sorsogon, he added, may be placed under the poll body’s control because of the presence of communist rebels. Ferrer who is the commissioner in-charge of the implementation of the gun ban, said his office has already received more than 5,000 applications for exemption. More than 2,000 of these have been granted exemptions while between 300 to 400 applications were disapproved. More than 100 politicians have so far been granted exemptions from the gun ban while there were also some journalist associations seeking immunity, according to the Comelec official. Ferrer advised media organizations to apply their individual application instead and prove that they are “high risk" individuals or have threats in their life to receive exemption. Majority of those who were given exemption are members of the armed forces and customs personnel. - GMANews.TV