AN election officer of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte was severely injured while her husband died in an ambush staged by unidentified assailants early yesterday morning.
In the wake of the ambush of election officer lawyer Maceda Abo and her husband, Jojo Abo, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said that he will propose to the Comelec en banc to place Datu Odin Sinsuat town under Comelec control ahead of the May 14 polls.
The incident occurred two days before the start of the campaign period for local candidates in the May 12 elections.
Initial police investigation showed the victims were on board a Toyota Fortuner that Abo’s husband was driving when they were waylaid by the suspects along the Cotabato-Shariff Aguak Road in Barangay Makir at around 8:20 a.m.
The victims came from their residence in Cotabato City and were on the way to Abo’s office when they were attacked. Abo is now confined at a hospital where her husband, Jojo, was declared dead on arrival.
“We have already stated in the past that they shouldn’t touch our Comelec employees and the voters. They shouldn’t be harmed or terrorized. The Comelec won’t allow it,” said Garcia.
Aside from the attack against the Abos, Garcia said: “In the past weeks, there have been violent incidents that happened there. It is only right that we place it under Comelec Control.”
He said what makes the incident more unacceptable is that it happened just a week after the Comelec hosted a Peace Covenant signing between candidates in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, right inside Camp Gonzalo Siongco.
Present during the Peace Covenant signing were rival gubernatorial bets in Maguindanao del Norte, namely, Suharto Mangudadatu and Datu Tucao Mastura, as well as opposing candidates for Maguindanao del Sur governor, Bai Mariam Mangudadatu and Ali Midtimbang.
“Whether it’s election-related or not, at this point, what is the most logical conclusion for the Comelec? It is election-related. It seems that they are testing the power and the patience of the Comelec on these matters,” said Garcia.
A report said policemen are conducting a hot pursuit operation for the apprehension of the suspects in the ambush of the Abo couple. They are exerting efforts to locate possible witnesses.
Datu Odin Sinsuat police chief Lt. Col. Jackson Lopez condemned the attack.
The DOS municipal police station is conducting a thorough investigation of this crime to establish motive and identification of the suspects,” said Lopez.
“Furthermore, we condemn and ask the support of the public to report the unscrupulous activities of lawless elements and be vigilant by providing relevant information,” he added.
Garcia said the Comelec en banc will hasten the decision on whether to place Datu Odin Sinsuat under its control or not.
“I also asked for the convening of the Regional Joint Security Command Conference with the regional election director, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police to discuss the proposal to place Datu Odin Sinsuat under Comelec Control,” said Garcia.
“We will come out with a decision on this as soon as possible. And in the event that the municipality is placed under Comelec Control, the poll body will be the de facto local government unit in charge of the area,” he said.
“We will have full and absolute control of the area. We will be laying down the guidelines and policy how to implement the Comelec control,” said Garcia.
