Abra, Mt. Province under watch for poll violence

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – Authorities on Tuesday said the provinces of Abra and Mt. Province have been placed on the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) watchlist, in anticipation of election-related violence in the upcoming village and youth polls on October 29. Armand Velasco, Director of Comelec’s Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) regional office, said that Abra and Mountain Province town’s history of intense rivalry and violence prompted the poll body to place these areas in the watchlist. He, however, said that security situation in these areas is still “not alarming" and remains under control. For his part, CAR police spokesman Supt. Arni Emock said that 15 towns in the violence-stricken Abra, and 6 of 10 towns in the Mt. Province are on the Comelec watchlist. These are the only provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region that were included in the watchlist, he noted. Abra is a regular election hotspot. In fact, it was declared under Comelec control during this year’s national elections. The province is touted as Cordillera region’s “killing fields" for a long history of unsolved killings. Election-related violence were likewise recorded in Mt. Province during past elections. CAR police director Chief Supt. Eugene Martin said he has increased the number of policemen deployed in these two provinces. Martin said he will order the further intensification of police deployment and visibility in these areas during the elections. Martin also called on the support of the local government and communities to ensure peaceful elections. - GMANews.TV