MANILA, Philippines — Eight more areas were placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), poll body chair Saidamen Pangarungan announced Tuesday.
“The Commission on Elections today placed six municipalities in Maguindanao, and one city and one municipality in Lanao del Sur under Comelec control,” said Pangarungan in a statement.
The Comelec Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns placed under the poll body’s control the towns of Buluan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Piang, Mangudadatu, Pandag, and Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao; and Marawi City and Maguing in Lanao del Sur.
Earlier, Pangarungan said that 12 municipalities in Maguindanao are “hotly contested” and that Comelec is monitoring Marawi and Maguing due to potential violence.
READ: Comelec says 12 municipalities in Maguindanao ‘hotly contested’
Aside from Marawi and Maguing, the towns of Malabang and Tubaran in Lanao del Sur were earlier placed under Comelec control.
READ: SAF troops deployed in 2 Lanao towns under Comelec control
Under Comelec Resolution No. 10757, the poll body’s control can be raised in an area due to the following circumstances:
- History of/or current intense rivalry among contending parties. Such rivalries could motivate people to engage in violent acts
- Incidents of politically-motivated violence involving aspirants/candidates and other supporters
- Violence may be facilitated by the employment of Private Armed Groups
- Serious armed threats posed by the Communist Terrorist Groups and other threat groups
Pangarungan said that Comelec is continuously updating their assessment for other areas.
READ: Comelec yet to release list of 104 election areas of concern