By Nanette Guadalquiver/Philippine News Agency
BACOLOD CITY — The Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) in Western Visayas (Region 6) has recommended to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to put the town of Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental under its control.
The resolution was signed by Comelec-6 Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros, chairman of RJSCC; Brig. Gen. John Bulalacao, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6; and Brig. Gen. Eric Vinoya, assistant commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, during an emergency meeting held at the PRO-6 Satellite Office in Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. here on Monday afternoon.
The recommendation came after two violent incidents occurred in the central Negros municipality that claimed the lives of two reelectionist councilors and a former president of the Association of Barangay Captains.
The presence of the New People’s Army (NPA) also poses danger in the peaceful conduct of the May 13 national and local elections in the area, the RJSCC resolution said.
At present, Moises Padilla is listed under Category Red due to intense political rivalry and presence of armed groups.
Category Red means it is an “area of grave concern”, with a history of election-related incidents in the past two elections and intense political rivalry, and there is serious armed threat posed by the NPA and other lawless elements.
“It is the conclusion of the RJSCC that the grounds for the placing of the Municipality of Moises Padilla under Comelec control have been verified and confirmed to be existing,” the resolution added.
According to the RJSCC, the police and military deployed additional personnel to Moises Padilla while the body is waiting for the approval of the Comelec en banc.
Last Friday, the Provincial Joint Security Control Center in Negros Occidental first recommended to the Comelec en banc to place Moises Padilla under its control amid the volatile peace and order situation in the municipality.
Provincial Election Supervisor Salud Milagros Villanueva, with provincial police director Col. Romeo Baleros, and 303rd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, submitted a resolution to the poll body along with the letter of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., requesting Commissioner Al Parreño, head of the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel, to place Moises Padilla under Comelec control to restore peace and order, and ensure public safety during the election period in the town.
On Saturday, the Philippine Army, with authority from the Comelec-Negros Occidental Provincial Office, deployed 150 soldiers from the 62nd Infantry Battalion to Moises Padilla.
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