BACOLOD City – The municipality of Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental is now under the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) control.
The poll agency through its task force will now have a full control and supervision of law enforcement agencies and military officers in the town.
Comelec issued the announcement yesterday.
The task force is composed by Provincial Comelec supervisor Jessie Suarez, Department of Interior and Local Government provincial officer Carmelo Orbista, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office director Colonel Romero Baleros, and 303rd Brigade Infantry of the Philippine Army commander Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo.
On May 3, Comelec commissioners Rowena Gaunzon and Antonio Kho approved the recommendation of the Western Visayas Regional Joint Security Control Center to place Moises Padilla under “Comelec control.”
Kho noted Comelec can place any area under its immediate control if there is a history of or prevailing intense political rivalry among contending parties that could lead to violence.
Kho said the “Red Status” placed under the town is one of the basis why Comelec en banc approved the Resolution 10501 last week.
He added the recent ambush that claimed the lives of town councilor Jose Antonio Garcia and his uncle Mark Garcia is also one of the factors.
The commissioner, on the other hand, clarified the local officials will still perform their respective functions despite the poll agency’s control under the town.
“We are not ousting any official in this municipality. They will continue to be officers unless in some other cause,” Kho said.
The municipal police station meanwhile acquired its new chief and officers as part of the Comelec order.
Lieutenant Colonel Adrian James Accolador took oath as the new officer-in-charge of the local police station during a turnover of command ceremony.
Accollador said that he will enforce all the directives for the peace and order of the locality.
“Pag may pupuntahan sila mag conduct tayo ng security sa area,” he said./PN
