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Comelec mulls control over Bantayan Island


(SunStar)Even as additional police troops were sent there, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now weighing its options on placing Bantayan Island in Cebu under its control. SunStar Cebu reported Thursday that the poll body is studying the prospect following the murder of Sta. Fe town mayoralty candidate Rogelio Ilustrisimo Sr Wednesday. "We have asked our election officers to submit their peace and order reports and, from there, we will base our recommendation to the Comelec en banc," provincial election supervisor Lionel Castillano said after their command conference Wednesday afternoon. For the moment, Comelec and the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) will observe a "status quo" in Sta. Fe town until investigation shows the killing is election-related. Task Force HOPE (honest, orderly and peaceful elections) commander Senior Superintendent Lani-O Nerez said police in Sta. Fe was on full alert since Wednesday immediately after the shooting. Nerez said they will not make any recommendation until they can sit down with Comelec officials after the investigation on the incident is completed. "We have to coordinate with Comelec on whether we will change Sta. Fe’s status as an area of concern but right now, we are on full alert there because we can’t predict what will happen next after this morning’s incident. We have enough personnel to secure the town," Nerez said. Acting Cebu provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Carmelo Valmoria said they will deploy additional policemen to Sta. Fe to augment Sub-Task Group Bantayan Island. Valmoria said that while the killing is considered an isolated case for now, the alert level in Sta. Fe was upgraded to full alert "to preempt untoward incidents because some supporters might react." For his part, Ilustrisimo’s bitter political rival Domingo Zaspa denied any hand in the killing, saying he is ready to face any investigation. The death of Ilustrisimo, an incumbent town councilor of Sta. Fe, is considered the first violent incident involving a political candidate in Cebu. Central Visayas police director Chief Superintendent Silverio Alarcio Jr created Task Force Ilustrisimo composed of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), Cebu City Provincial Office and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 7. Named head of the task force was Cebu City director Senior Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador. Police have initially produced a cartographic sketch of the gunman, based on the testimonies of tricycle drivers they interviewed so far. The witnesses, who were waiting for passengers along Villalon Drive, said they saw the gunman jump from the concrete wall of the Capitol and ran towards Escario Street. They saw the gunman drop his cap, dark glasses and lighter after he bumped into a passing tricycle while escaping. Investigators said the suspect was likely a hired killer who ran on foot after shooting Ilustrisimo about 10:40 a.m., near the local Comelec office. Ilustrisimo succumbed to four gunshot wounds in his nape and forehead. He, his son Sta. Fe Mayor Roger Ilustrisimo, Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Simaco Labata, and an aide of the Ilustrisimos just came from a disqualification hearing inside the Comelec provincial office when the attack happened. It was learned that two policemen were assigned to secure Ilustrisimo but the victim reportedly went without his security escorts that fateful Wednesday. For his part, Zaspa, who filed the disqualification case that was heard Wednesday at the local Comelec office, denied any role in the killing. Zaspa, who also attended the hearing Wednesday, said he was already riding in a taxi when the shooting occurred. He told local GMA-7 broadcaster and Sun-Star Cebu columnist Bobby Nalzaro he is ready to face any investigation, adding that he cannot be involved in the killing because Ilustrisimo was a cousin and an elder of the Seventh-Day Adventist. Initial investigation showed the Ilustrisimos and their companions were waiting outside the Comelec office while their lawyer Rufino Remoreras Jr went inside to submit a copy of their response. The election officer later heard two gunshots. He rushed outside and found Ilustrisimo lying on the ground. Castillano immediately called up Comendador. Remoreras said it was less than one minute when he left the Ilustrisimos when two shots rang out. Castillano and Remoreras said the hearing went well with no oral arguments from both parties. Inspector Mario Monilar, police homicide section chief, said the elder Ilustrisimo was talking with Labata when the first shot was fired. Monilar said Labata went inside the Comelec office while Mayor Ilustrisimo and the aide ran towards the legislative building and took refuge at the office of provincial board member Jose Ma. Gastardo. Some policemen even chased Mayor Ilustrisimo and the aide, whom they mistook as the perpetrators. Monilar said because the incident happened so fast, Mayor Ilustrisimo failed to get a close look at the gunman. Valmoria said the crime was likely the work of a professional. "The fact that the crime was committed inside the Capitol compound, which is well guarded, indicates that the killer is a professional," Monilar said. Police recovered two empty shells and two slugs for a cal-.45 pistol and brought them to the crime laboratory sent for a ballistic test to see if these came from the same handgun. - GMANews.TV
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