Comelec to place areas in 7 provinces under its control

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is planning to place areas in at least seven provinces under its control in preparation for the May 10 nationwide automated elections. These places are the provinces of Abra and Nueva Ecija, and some towns in Davao, Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Sur, Masbate and Cavite, according to Comelec chairman Jose Melo. Melo said they based their decision on the escalating number of election-related violent incidents in these places. He, however, noted that they have yet to promulgate the resolution regarding the order. Last week, the Comelec en banc held a hearing to place some areas in Abra, Nueva Ecija, and Zamboanga Del Sur under its control. The requests were made by Tineg, Abra Mayor Edwin Crisologo, Bangued; Abra Mayor Dominic Valera, Labangan; Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali; and Zamboanga Del Sur Vice Mayor Wilson Nandang. Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle earlier said the local officials requested them to place their areas under Comelec control because of the history of election-related violence there. Melo even said that election officers in Abra had refused to accept the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, the technology that will be used in the upcoming elections, ahead of election day for fear that the machines would be stolen. The Comelec had the machines stored at the residence of the archbishop for safekeeping. On the other hand, the hearing to place some areas in Davao, Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat under Comelec control has been reset to Wednesday. Placing an area under Comelec control means that the poll body commissioner to be assigned in the province would be the acting governor. It will also empower the commissioner to run the province and take command of the law enforcement there. On Monday, officials of the poll body, Philippine National Police, and Armed Forces of the Philippines held a joint command conference to discuss the preparation for the next week's automated polls. — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV