Garcia asks PNP to speed up resolution of cases of violence against poll officers

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia on Saturday appealed to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to speed up the resolution of cases of violence against election officers.

Garcia made the call as he met with election officer Aknam Hasim—who got blind after being shot while he was on his way to the Office of Provincial Election Supervisor in October 2021—and the family of Al-Barka, Basilan, election officer Ruayna Sayyadi, who was killed in July 2022.

"Kami po sa Comelec, 'yun ang gusto kong panindigan na sa ating pamamahala, hindi pupwedeng basta nangyari na lang 'yon. Kaya nga kanina ang kauna-unahan kong tanong ay kung ano ang kalagayan nila at ang pangalawang tanong kung ano na ang update sa imbestigasyon," he said.

"Meron na ba tayong lead kasi napaka-importante, hindi naman pupwedeng basta nangyari lang 'yon. Sasabihin nila na napaka-powerful ng Comelec. Di ba ang sinasabi nga nila ang chairman ng Comelec ang pinaka-powerful, more powerful than the president during the election period tapos hindi ma-solve 'yung mga ganitong klaseng mga krimen," he added.

Garcia said that these criminal acts occur before and immediately after the election.

He stressed that violence against election officers must not happen again.

"Hindi rin naman pupwedeng basta lang namin palalampasin yan. Ide-demand pa rin natin sa mga kinauukulan lalong-lalo na sa ating kapulisan na kung pupwede, 'wag kakalimutan at magkaroon ng direksyon ang ginagawang imbestigasyon kasi otherwise, mangyayari na naman 'yan at baka yung gumawa sa kanya baka naman 'yung susunod at 'yung papalit sa kanya, 'yon naman din ang gagawan ng kasamaan," he said.

"Dapat matigil na 'yan. Dapat mahinto na yan. Dapat hanggang sa kapatid niyo na lang at sa kanya (election officer Hasim) 'yung karahasan na 'yan."

When asked if there have been any developments in his case, Hasim said that there is no information yet on the identity of the perpetrators.

Garcia said they will make sure to bring these matters to the attention of the high-ranking officials of the PNP, not because they want special treatment for these cases but to give justice to the families and the election officers who were harmed.

"'Yun nga ang patuloy nating pakiusap sa PNP at sa ibang mga enforcement agency na sana mabigyan na kami ng kaliwanagan," he said.

Garcia said election officers should not be blamed for the results of the polls. 

"'Wag naman po sana 'yung mga kasamahan namin o kami ang inyong sasaktan. Sana po ay makilala niyo rin na ang eleksyon ay binebenta niyo ang sarili ninyo sa ating mamamayan," he said.

"So kung may sisisihin kayo, hindi po yung kumisyon o 'yung mga tao at kawani dito. Ang sisihin ninyo yung mga hindi bumoto sa inyo o 'yung mga hindi nagbigay ng kanilang kalooban para sa inyo. Ginagawa lang po ng Commission on Elections ang amin pong katungkulan," he added.

Garcia then warned those who planned to harm election officers that his leadership would declare war against them. 

"Kung may mga nakikinig man d'yan na nagbabalak ng masama sa Commission on Elections, do not test the present leadership. Do not test the Commission on Elections," he said.

"We have all the powers to practically bring the dogs of war [to] your doorstep." —VBL, GMA Integrated News