Sulu police chief axed over election clashes

MANILA, Philippines—The axe has fallen on the police chief of Sulu for allegedly failing to contain the violent clashes between armed supporters of local candidates in the province during last Monday’s elections.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima announced the relief of Senior Supt. Antonio Freyra at a press conference Thursday commending the police’s accomplishments during the elections.

“He was relieved because he can no longer control his people. We need people there who can control the situation,” Purisima told reporters.

“In fact, the firefight in the town of Banguingui is still continuing until now,” he said.

Senior Supt. Robert Kiunisala was named officer in charge of the Sulu provincial police office.

On Election Day, Marines were sent to replace the entire police force of the island municipality of Banguingui after warring candidates accused the police of partisanship.

Three supporters of a mayoral aspirant were killed and another was wounded in a gun battle with the Marines on that day.

In Panglima Estino town, unidentified men waylaid a convoy of residents who were on their way to a polling center, killing two of the voters and injuring four others.

Sulu, known as the hideout of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits, has long been listed as an election hot spot by authorities.

Despite the violence in some provinces, however, Purisima maintained that the PNP’s campaign against loose firearms and private armed groups had been successful to minimize the violence during the election period.