UNDER COMELEC CONTROL. Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Albay Election Supervisor Ma. Aurea Bo-Bunao during a media briefing in Legazpi City on Monday (Oct. 23, 2023). She said the poll body has placed Libon town in Albay under the poll body's control for the conduct of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30. (Screengrab from virtual media briefing)
LEGAZPI CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Bicol confirmed on Monday that a town in Albay was placed under the poll body's control for the conduct of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30.
In a media briefing, Comelec Bicol Regional Director Maria Juana Valeza said the Comelec en banc approved their request to put Libon with all its 47 barangays under Comelec control following the series of killings of barangay officials in the town.
"Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia has already pronounced that Libon, Albay will be placed under Comelec control. It will be on heightened alert there, with more augmentation of forces. It is important to maintain the peace and order in the locality," Valeza said.
However, Valeza clarified that teachers will still be the poll officers during the conduct of the election in the municipality.
"Kung kaya ng mga teachers and kaya natin protektahan yung mga teachers on election day, still the teachers assigned will serve as members of electoral board. Last resort na po natin ang Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Mas importante po na nagbabantay, kaysa nagse-serve as electoral board (If the teachers can and we can protect the teachers on election day, still the teachers assigned will serve as members of the electoral board. The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are our last resort, it is more important for them to secure than to serve as an electrical board)," she said.
Valeza said a status quo will be imposed in the operation of the local government unit (LGU) of Libon.
"Wag natin pakialaman ang operation ng LGU (Let's not interfere with the operation of the LGU)," she said.
For her part, Comelec-Albay Election Supervisor Ma. Aurea Bo-Bunao said changes are to be expected in the security of all the 47 barangays in Libon.
"They will vote on the same precincts, the changes will be on security measures. Also, we have trained PNP personnel to act as the electoral board just in case the teachers back out on election day. Mas malaki po ang pwersa na ilalagay sa Libon keysa sa mga hindi Comelec control (More forces will be deployed in Libon than in areas not put under Comelec control)," she said.
Earlier this year, Barangay Nogpo Councilor Reliosa Mata and her husband were killed, along with Barangay San Jose chair Alex Repato, after filing his certificate of candidacy last Aug. 28. (PNA)
