THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to place Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte under its direct control in the aftermath of the killing of election officer Maceda Abo and her husband, Jojo.
In an interview, Elections chairman George Garcia said the Commission en banc has unanimously agreed to place Datu Odin Sinsuat under Comelec control.
However, he said the province of Maguindanao del Norte will not be under Comelec control despite the recommendation of the AFP and the PNP to expand the coverage to the entire province.
“Declaring Comelec control for the whole Maguindanao del Norte, at this point, is a negative. That would be unfair to other areas that have no violence,” he said.
He said a resolution putting Datu Odin Sinsuat under Comelec control will be issued once they finalize the implementing guidelines.
“We want to provide the specific actions of the Comelec in a Comelec controlled area, the extent and limitations of its mandate. We want them to be properly defined,” Garcia said.
Last month, the Abo couple were killed by unidentified gunmen in Datu Odin Sinsuat, prompting Garcia to propose the placing of the town under Comelec control.
