Comelec to place violence-hit areas under control
With the rising incidence of violence related to the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will exercise its power to place certain areas under its control.
In a resolution, the Comelec said it will take direct control and supervision over all national and local officials and employees required by law to perform duties to comply with certain prohibitions relative to the conduct of elections.
The Comelec has also established a command center to oversee the implementation of its resolution.
“The Comelec shall exercise full control and supervision over all national and local enforcement agencies and military officers and men assigned in the political division, subdivision, unit or area concerned,” the poll body added.
Under the rules, the Comelec may initiate the declaration of Comelec control motu propio or if there is a request from the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP).
“The declaration of CBFSP shall be final and immediately execu tory unless, reversed by the Commission,” the Comelec said.
Presence or history of intense rivalry among contending parties and serious armed threats by New People’s Army or other paramilitary forces are grounds for the Comelec to declare an area under its control and supervision.
Once an area is declared under Comelec control, the poll body has the authority to reshuffle or relieve members of the PNP and require the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to look into existence of armed groups and suppress acts of terrorism or threats.
“The Comelec may recommend or enjoin the DILG to take appropriate action, including but not limited to the suspension of local government officials involved in the violations of elections laws or failure to comply with the order or ruling of the Comelec,” the Commission’s resolution read.
The Comelec may also relieve any public official or employee who violates any election law and appoint their substitutes. Upon the recommendation of the Comelec, the proper authority shall suspend or remove from office any officer or employee found guilty of committing election offense. the day of the election, the PNP and AFP shall designate sufficient number of personnel to adequately cover the security of polling centers under Comelec control.
Police and military personnel are not allowed to enter polling centers.
The PNP and AFP shall be guided in the following color categories: green for areas with no security concern, yellow for election areas of concern, orange for areas of immediate concern, and red for areas of grave concern.
The Comelec may direct the augmentation of PNP and AFP if the need arises in areas under yellow category, and motu propio declare an area in red category under its direct control.
The declaration of an area under Comelec control shall be in full force until the end of the election period unless lifted by the Comelec.
Power outage prevention
Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has convened a task force to assure ample energy supply to prevent power outage during local polls.
The energy chief called on the Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) to discuss plans to deal with the possible contingencies during the elections.
“We have enough energy supply for the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on 14 May,” Cusi said.
Members of the TFER include the Department of Energy (DOE), National Electrification Administration, National Power Corp., National Transmission Corp., National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, Philippine National Oil Co. and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.