Kalinga placed under Comelec control

BAGUIO CITY - Kalinga province has been placed under the control of the Commission on Elections, officials said Thursday. Comelec control means military troops can be dispatched to areas under the control of the poll body to avert incidents of violence. Comelec Cordillera Administrative Region director Armando Velasco said poll Chairman Benjamin Abalos decided to put Kalinga under the poll body’s direct control after noting the presence of armed groups in the province. On Black Saturday, independent gubernatorial candidate Rommel Diasen was killed by gunmen while delivering a campaign speech in Magnao, Tabuk town. The Comelec was originally considering selective control of some towns in Kalinga. These include Tanudan, Lubuagan, Tinglayan, Pasil and Pinukpuk. Poll officials said these towns had a history of election cheating and election-related violence. Senior Supt. Severino Cruz s hailed the Comelec’s decision because "it is strategically favorable to acquire more troops to secure polling centers." The police officer claimed that they are short of 120 personnel for deployment of two policeman per polling center. The police director added that they also need 15 teams of soldiers to secure policemen deployed in far flung areas for the polls. - GMANews.TV