INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

Comelec blunder seen in Nueva Ecija

Inquirer

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- Lack of familiarity as a result of tapping security forces outside of Nueva Ecija was seen as the main reason for the clash between groups of bodyguards of candidates belonging to rival camps in the province.

Vice Gov. Mariano Cristino Joson, who is running for governor, said the Commission on Elections tapped soldiers and policemen from the regional mobile group (RMG) who are not known to law enforcers in the province.

“Hindi kasi magkakakilala ang mga security details. Malamang nga magkabanggaan sila (The security details do not know each other. It is highly probable for them to clash),” said Joson.

Prior to the decision of the Comelec to deploy 350 more soldiers and policemen to Nueva Ecija, no clash had been reported between rival candidates.

Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. has allowed Gov. Tomas Joson III to retain administrative control over the provincial government following reports that the Comelec also wanted to take over the province’s daily affairs.

The governor vehemently opposed the plan to leave the running of the province’s day-to-day affairs to the Comelec.

In his visit to Nueva Ecija on Friday, Director General Oscar Calderon, Philippine National Police chief, said the PNP would punish the policemen found to have violated rules of engagement.

“We assure the public that the full might of the PNP will fall on those who will be found to have violated the rules of engagement in this case,” Calderon said.

Residents and officials in Nueva Ecija said the clash between the bodyguards of Jaen mayoral candidate Antonio Esquivel and Rep. Rodolfo Antonino on Thursday could have been prevented had authorities instituted a system of control and precaution.

Religious and civic groups here said committing warring candidates to sign a peace covenant may prevent the escalation of violence.

Police investigators on Saturday tested for gunpowder traces the 10 policemen involved in the shootout between supporters of Esquivel and Antonino on Thursday night in Jaen.

Two men, a candidate for councilor and a policeman, were killed while 12 others, including Esquivel’s two sons, were hurt in the gunfight.

The Task Force Jaen retrieved the policemen’s firearms for ballistics test, according to Chief Supt. Ismael Rafanan, Central Luzon police director. The policemen were assigned to Esquivel and Antonino.

Under investigation are four members of the RMG who arrived in Barangay Dampulan at the request of Antonino following the sighting of armed men in a blue van that stopped near his campaign rally there.

Also under investigation are four troopers from the provincial mobile group (PMG) and two policemen from the police security personnel office who were all assigned to Esquivel.

Rafanan said the police’s crime laboratory was expected to release its findings on Tuesday.

“Somebody had an itchy finger and we would like to know who that was,” he said.

Who gave the order to fire was another matter, Rafanan said.

The task force, which is headed by Senior Supt. Gelor Eleazar, continued to gather eyewitnesses’ accounts on Sunday.

Rafanan said the bullet holes on the vehicles -- five on Antonino’s side and four on Esquivel’s -- have been documented.

Rafanan corrected reports that the RMG set up a checkpoint along the road in Dampulan.

“There was no checkpoint. What they did was flag down Esquivel’s vehicles,” he said.

Esquivel passed that way after he came from his own rally in Barangay Pakol, a few kilometers from where Antonino’s rally was held.

The police and the military deployed some 100 men in Jaen following the clash, said to be the bloodiest since the local campaign period began on March 30.

“There seemed to be a lull after the storm but I see no possibility of another breakout of violence in Jaen,” Rafanan said.

That can be assured because aside from sending in fresh troops, the Comelec has taken control of security in the province. Tonette Orejas and Anselmo Roque, Inquirer Central Luzon

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