Crimes, drug trafficking emerge as poll issues

DAVAO CITY—Rising criminality, killings, worsening drug problem and the lack of infrastructure projects are among the issues being hurled against local incumbent officials by their challengers in several areas in Mindanao.

In Cotabato City, for example, Muslimin Sema, who wants to topple reelectionist Mayor Japal Guiani Jr., said the current set of officials should be made accountable for the safety and security of its “fear-gripped” residents because of the high incidence of crime, such as killings by motorcycle-riding suspects and the illegal drugs trade.

Sema did not provide statistics but said one only needed to listen to radio reports to know how serious criminality has grown in the city.

Cynthia Sayadi, who took the cudgels for her brother, the mayor, acknowledged reports of violent incidents taking place, but said the accolades and recognition the city had been getting the past few years should automatically diminish claims that residents were stricken by fear.

Sayadi, who is running for vice mayor, said Cotabato won the Presidential Award for the most child-friendly city and was the fourth most-competitive component city from 37th two years ago. More recently, she said, it was adjudged finalist among the Most Business-Friendly Cities by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Last month, the National Competitive Council, the official Philippine Task Force on Public and Private Partnership (PTF-PPP), ranked Cotabato the fourth most-competitive component city in the country, according to the Mindanao Development Authority.

“We are putting Cotabato City again on the Philippine development map, alongside good governance, notwithstanding all the challenges that we needed to overcome to be able to regain the trust and confidence of our investors,” Guiani said.

In Tagum City in Davao del Norte province, former Mayor Rey Uy, who is running against reelectionist Mayor Allan Rellon, lamented what he said was the growing peace and order problem, complicated by proliferation of illegal drugs.

Police officials confirmed that the drug problem had become serious in Tagum but that it had been doing its best to combat it. For example, in August, an antidrug operation resulted in the arrest of four persons and the seizure of P5.5 million worth of “shabu,” or methamphetamine hydrochloride.

Uy said that while Rellon was safe in his home because of his bodyguards, ordinary residents were threatened by criminals.

In the Island Garden City of Samal, Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, who is running for mayor against Vice Mayor Al David Uy, is using the same issue of illegal drugs as a campaign springboard.

Del Rosario vowed to pursue the construction of a bridge to connect the city to the mainland, even as he questioned the “few projects” under the current administration.

In other areas, the issues of power and water have taken center stage.

In Compostela Valley province, the rift within the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco) is expected to become the main campaign issue. Gubernatorial candidate Jayvee Tyron Uy is taking the side of the faction favoring the Cooperative Development Authority.

In Bansalan, Davao del Sur province, the problem of water supply is being raised by the camp of mayoral candidate and incumbent Vice Mayor Arnel Gallardo, who is pushing for a takeover by the Local Water Utilities Administration of the embattled Bansalan Water District.

However, the camp of Mayor Edwin Reyes, who is now running for vice mayor, maintained that the problem was caused by mismanagement by previous water district officials. Reports from Nash Maulana, Frinston Lim and Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao