Comelec to tackle plan to put Maguindanao del Norte under its control
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia —INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc will discuss on Wednesday the recommendation to place Maguindanao del Norte province under Comelec control after an ambush that killed an election officer, according to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Tuesday.
Garcia said that the regional directors of the Philippine National Police and the Comelec in Bangsamoro region recommended declaring the province under Comelec control.
“Yan ay pag-uusapan namin bukas sapagkat kinakailangan namin yung recommendation din ng Committee on Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns. Sila kasi ang in charge sa ganyan at may ilang implikasyon yan,” he said in an interview.
(That’s what we will discuss tomorrow because we will also need the recommendation of the Committee on Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns. They are in charge of that matter and it has implications.)
Under Comelec control, the poll body has the full authority to govern a certain area.
READ: Election exec, husband slain in ambush in Maguindanao del Norte
He said that his priority now is to serve justice to the bereaved family of an election officer and her husband who died in an ambush Datu Odin Sinsuat.
“Yung Comelec control ang pinakamataas na level ng security concern. Dapat pa rin nating maipakita sa sambayanan na kaya nating maibigay yung hustisya doon sa mga namatayan, sa Comelec halimbawa, kahit walang Comelec control,” Garcia added.
(The Comelec control is the highest level of security concern. We must still show to our constituents that we can still serve justice to the family, and Comelec, even if there is no Comelec control.)
When asked why the recommendation covers the whole province of Maguindanao del Norte, Garcia answered: “Maaaring mayroon silang kaalaman o impormasyon, intelligence reports, at yung ilang nakikita nilang karahasan sa mismong probinsya na kakailanganin at majujustify ng Comelec control sa buong province.”
(They may know information, intelligence reports, and threats and violence they see in the province that will be necessary to justify putting the province under Comelec control.)
READ: Garcia wants Maguindanao del Norte town under Comelec control
Garcia also shared that no violence was monitored so far after the ambush.
He previously said that he would recommend to the en banc to put Datu Odin Sinsuat under Comelec control. The recommendation is awaiting en banc’s approval.
