Declare Samar under Comelec control — governor

Roughly two weeks before the May 9 polls, re-electionist Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to place the province under its control.

Tan also asked for the reshuffle of provincial police personnel as part of efforts to address election-related violence.

While Samar is considered an election hotspot, Tan said in a letter to the Comelec that the “declining peace and order (situation)” in the province may not have yet been fully brought to the attention of the Comelec due to a “dearth of media coverage” of poll-related violence.

She reported the alleged killings and intimidation of people identified with the Nacionalista Party (NP) of which she is a member.

Tan cited the murder of NP campaign leader Lopez Pedereza of Calbayog City on April 13, the shooting of NP supporter Rogelio Salvame on April 3 and the arrest on March 22 of Rene Belleza, a person with disability, and other incidents of intimidation allegedly perpetrated by members of rival Liberal Party.

The governor also asked Comelec to reassign 16 police officials currently deployed in Samar on suspicion that they are incapable of preventing poll-related violence or are involved in committing illegal acts themselves.

Among the police officers named were Eastern Visayas police head Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte, Deputy Regional Director Chief Supt. Kendrick Train, and Samar Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Rommel Bernardo Cabagnot.

“It is therefore imperative that this Honorable Commission immediately invoke its authority to place the province of Samar directly under its control for the duration of the election period to curb the ERVIs (election-related violent incidents) and restore peace and order in the province,” she said.

“Clearly, the current intense rivalry among the contending parties and the proliferation of private armed groups abetted by loose firearms in the hands of unqualified individuals justify placing Samar under this Honorable Commission's control.”

Placing an area under Comelec control means that the Comelec commissioner would be assigned as acting governor, run the affairs of the province and take command of the law enforcement.

Among the grounds for placing an area under the poll body's control are violence abetted by private armed groups and loose firearms and history of intense political rivalry, according to Comelec Resolution 10074. — BAP, GMA News