Abra put under Comelec control; PNP meets warring politicians

Following killing of mayoral supporter 

BANGUED, Abra – This province has been placed under the control of the Commission on Elections even as a conflict mediation meeting was held in this capital town last week among opposing political parties and candidates with the police following a shooting incident leading to the death of a supporter of a mayoralty candidate of San Juan municipality.

“The commission has approved this in principle although there is no resolution yet,” Comelec Commissioner Sheriff Abas said Thursday in Manila.

Rival candidates have been accusing each other of harassing and threatening their supporters in the province

Mercedita Bragas, a supporter of San Juan town mayoral candidate Russel Bragas was shot dead two weeks ago while Tineg town Vice Mayor Edwin Crisologo was charged with murder and frustrated murder for the ambush of a town council bet.

Under Comelec Resolution 10074, an area is placed under the control of the poll body if it has a history of intense political rivalry, presence of private armed groups and loose firearms and threat posed by the New People’s Army, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Abu Sayyaf and other paramilitary forces.

The Comelec will have control and supervision over local officials as well as the police and military in areas placed under its control.

The poll body also has the power to supervise and control the disbursement of public funds, construction of public works and movement of government personnel, among others.

Meanwhile, the conciliation meeting was initiated by the Abra provincial police office headed by Senior Supt Antonio P. Bartolome here at Camp Juan Villamor.

Parties involved were the group of congressional candidate and incumbent mayor of San Juan lawyer Marco M. Bautista with mayoralty candidate Meynardo M. Bautista, also a lawyer, both under Nacionalista Party, and the group of mayoralty candidate lawyer Russel A.Bragas with congressional candidate and La Paz incumbent mayor Joseph Santo Nino Bernos, both from the Liberal Party.

The Sangguniang Bayan candidates from both parties and all 19 punong barangays of San Juan were also present during the activity.

Members of the mediating committee were Lt. Col. Thomas Dominic Baluga, battalion commander of 24th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, Atty. Mae Richelle B. Beronilla, Provincial Election Supervisor of Commission on Election-Abra, Most Rev. Leopoldo C. Jaucian, SVDD, Bishop of the Diocese of Bangued, Chief Supt. Robert G. Quenery, deputy regional police director for administration, and Millicent B. Carino, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Abra.

The shooting incident happened morning of April 24 at Barangay Abualan, San Juan killing one known supporter of Bragas. 

Alleged suspects and some witnesses were already identified by the San Juan Municipal Police Station under town police chief Rey C. Tad-o who reported that the case is still under investigation.

The mediation ended positively and both parties expressed support to the advocacy for peaceful elections in San Juan. 

Parties pledged “no personal animosity" in conduct of elections considering they are relatives.