Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo said she will seek approval from the Commission on Elections to put the town under Comelec control starting from the campaign period until election day on May 9, to ease political tensions in the area, following the recent arrest of her four candidates for councilor.
These councilors are suspects in the killing of another Sangguniang Bayan member two years ago.
Yulo said she will talk to P/Col. Romy Palgue, Negros Occidental police provincial director, on the recent tensions in her town.
She said she does not want a repeat of what had happened in the 2019 elections, when her brother and nephew were shot dead while campaigning in a remote barangay of Moises Padilla.
Provincial Election Supervisor, Atty . Ian Lee Ananoria, said it is too early to request for Comelec control since they have not yet form the Provincial Joint Peace and Security Council which will be composed of the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, the Comelec, and other organizations.
Ananoria added they need to come up with guidelines in requesting for Comelec intervention, and there should be strong bases to consider, not just because of present tensions and threats.
Ananoria said he has yet to meet with the heads of the Army and PNP, because he assumed as PES only on Sept. 30, or a day before the start of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy.
He said the Army and the PNP in the province have yet to identify any election area of concern.
Meanwhile, the plan of Yulo is also being supported by her teammates. — MML
