BACOLOD CITY, April 4 (PNA) — Provincial Election Supervisor Wil Arceno of Negros Occidental seemed to disagree in placing the local government unit under the control of Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Arceno said that appeal of the Governor Alfredo Marañon to put the province under their control will not be good although he understand the latter’s feeling.
Marañon issued such appeal in reaction to the assassination of a police officer and civilian asset in Escalante City earlier this week.
The killing of PO1 Bejen “Dodong” Tanguan and former CAFGU member Joseph Lutrago was allegedly perpetrated by the sparu unit of New People’s Army.
Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) has declared the assassination as “work-related” and not in any way linked to election contrary to the suspicion of the chief executive.
Arceno said the term “Comelec control” has different connotation to the poll body. This will mean that all matters, including the administrative function with regards to the operations of LGU, will be under their command, he said.
Escalante City has been placed in the election watch list area under category 1 due to the presence of armed groups and intense political rivalry.
But before the election period, Escalante City has a long-standing problem in peace and order due to insurgency.
“Right now, I see no reason for the declaring the province under Comelec control as the incident happened only in Escalante and not in other areas,” Arceno said.
Arceno said he only sees the need to increase the deployment of police and military units in the area. (PNA)
PDS/JAN/EYA
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