Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte – SEEING local and family conflicts as the usual source of election-related violence, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday urged rival candidates in the forthcoming May 12 polls to engage in dialogues while tapping an impartial mediator to facilitate it.
Speaking at the Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur Candidates’ Forum held here inside Camp Gonzalo Siongco, Comelec chairman George Garcia urged the candidates in the two provinces to talk to one another instead of relying on rumors, gossips, and misinformation.
“Sometimes, the lack of communication and reliance to rumors and misinformation is the one that creates the tension among each other,” said Garcia.
He said dialogues usually negates the need to file charges or the occurrence of clan wars, known locally as rido.
“When there is conflict within the family, I believe, the law enforcers and even the Comelec shouldn’t be involved as much as possible. The problem will have to be resolved within the family,” said Garcia.
The poll chief said the rival candidates in the area may also elect to tap a neutral mediator to help resolve conflicts.
“Is it possible to have a common person that can help you resolve the conflict? Whenever issues rise during the campaign and the elections, maybe we can seek the help that person,” he said.
Present during the candidates’ forum were rival gubernatorial bets in Maguindanao del Norte, namely Suharto Mangudadatu and Datu Tucao Mastura.
Also present in the forum were opposing candidates for Maguindanao del Sur governor, Bai Mariam Mangudadatu and Ali Midtimbang.
Heeding the call of Garcia, the candidates nominated newly-appointed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim chief minister Abdulraof Macacua, who welcomed the idea while vowing to stay neutral and impartial in resolving conflicts.
During the gathering, the candidates signed a peace covenant in front of officials of the Comelec, PNP and AFP.
“We pledge to conduct our campaigns with dignity, respect, and in a spirit of unity. We commit to rejecting any form of violence, threat, or intimidation in our political actions, and we will actively encourage our supporters to uphold these values,” the covenant stated.
“We commit to working collaboratively with all political parties and stakeholders, setting aside partisan differences, to ensure that peace is maintained throughout the electoral process and beyond,” it also said.
Garcia said avoiding conflicts and election-related violence will reduce the need for the Comelec to place parts of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur under Comelec control.
“What we don’t want to happen is for Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur to be placed under Comelec control. You wouldn’t want that either,” he said, explaining that being placed under Comelec control is like handing the local government to the poll body.
“Under Comelec Control, technically we have the final say in the area, including it’s projects. We are the local government, so to speak,” said Garcia.
Turning his attention to their field personnel, Garcia directed election officers and provincial election supervisors to maintain their neutrality during the campaign and election period.
“We can avoid violence if we can remove even just the mere perception of impartiality. We have to be fair and impartial. That’s all we can give them,” he said.
He also ordered them to take down all postings that aren’t related to the elections believing this will help reduce the tension in the area.
“Anything that may instigate, we are authorizing our personnel as well as the police and military to have them removed,” said Garcia.
