Abra under watch by Cordillera peace and order council

BAGUIO CITY(May 4, 2022) – The Cordillera Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) said it will tightly monitor the situation in the Region especially Abra noting recent incidents of election-related violence that occured as the 2022 National and Local Election Day nears.

This as Pilar, Abra was placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Other area which was declared by the Comelec under such status is the Province of Misamis Occidental acting on the recommendation of the Regional Joint Security Council of Region 10.

According to the Comelec, the two areas was put under Comelec control due to security and safety concerns.

Misamis Occidental was placed placed under such status by the Committee on Ban of Firearms and Security Concerns.

Pilar was placed under Comelec control upon the recommendation of Comelec Cordillera Regional Election Director Ederlino Tabilas as a response to the petition by Pilar Mayor Maro Somera.

The entire police force in Pilar was also relieved.

The Pilar town police force was earlier criticized as favoring particular candidates and was not acting on obvious incidents of irregularities.

Policemen in other Abra town were also criticized for not acting on vote-buying complaints, though Abra police directoe Col. Maly Cula had earlier argued that their main concern is preventing the physical clash between rival politicians and instead pointed at the Comelec to check on reports of vote buying in the province.

Artemio A. Dumlao