• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is not downplaying the capability of the New People’s Army (NPA) remnants in Negros to disrupt the May 12 midterm elections amid the assurance of the Philippine Army that the rebel group no longer poses a threat.
“We should not be caught flat-footed,” Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said on Monday (Jan. 20).
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) earlier ordered its armed wing, the NPA, to enforce a set of policies for politicians entering what it claims the “revolutionary areas”.
In a statement, the CPP said “candidates and their supporters will be allowed to conduct their election campaigns in accordance with established guidelines”.
While they have not monitored any activity of the NPA demanding “campaign fees” from candidates, Ananoria said they are anticipating it during the campaign period.
He also said they have not received any report on private armed groups with the intention to disrupt the electoral process in Negros Occidental.
The campaign period for national candidates will kick off Feb. 11 while for local candidates, Feb. 28. It will end on May 10.
The Comelec Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns has identified the municipalities of San Enrique, Isabela Calatrava, Cauayan and Sipalay City as areas of concerns amid the declaration of local authorities that Negros Occidental is under “green category” or with no election security concerns.
“Perhaps they have their own qualifications or may have a different report. We will conduct a re-assessment of the report,” Ananoria said.
The Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center of Negros Island Region is scheduled to hold another meeting within the next two weeks.
“As of now, we will be taking that into consideration as a guide for further policy making,” Ananoria said.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said “only Calatrava may be a concern, not because of political rivalry, but by the presence of rebel remnants.”
“Isabela and San Enrique is considered to be a close battle, but these two local government units have managed to have a peaceful election,” Lacson said.
In the case of Sipalay City, Lacson said “it is as peaceful as it can be.” | GB
