Election hot ‘spats’

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

Apart from the election hotspots that were identified by the Philippine National Police in coordination with the Commission on Elections, it is also the season for election-related spats or clashes.

All is fair during elections. But not for candidates who violated the Fair Elections Act. Begin by citing news reports of political candidates who hung posters that were bigger than the required maximum size of two by three feet.

The police identified 701 election hotspots for the May 2019 national polls that is equivalent to 42.9 percent of the 1,364 cities and municipalities in the country.

At least 19 places in the Cordillera were included under the Yellow category of the PNP watchlist, meaning these areas had records of election-related incidents in the last two elections, history of intense political rivalry, and had been previously declared under Comelec control.

Four areas in the Cordillera were likewise declared as Red Zone areas, meaning these places have shown combined factors under the Yellow and Orange categories such that it may warrant the motu proprio declaration of “Comelec Control”.

All is fair during elections. But not so for a suspected syndicate that takes advantage of the election season to enter and construct houses or shanties on any lands.

Two weeks ago, personalities unknown to actual residents of Upper Ambiong were confronted by the latter for bringing in construction and fencing material. One of the personalities claimed he bought six hectares of the land, while the other said she was born in the area.

The two personalities, along with the assistance of their crew of supporters believed to belong to a tribe from the Cordillera North, had no previous improvements to show as basis for the issuance of tax declaration numbers to them.

Apparently, they were taking advantage of the election season where authorities would be busy and would sometimes fail to notice the entry of squatters and land grabber-syndicates.     

Another common spat that occurs during election season is illegal logging and the illegal transport of the same. Recently, policemen reported the arrest of five individuals at Brgy. Salvacion, Luna, Apayao for attempting to transport assorted illegally sawn lumber without pertinent documents.

 Prior to their arrest, they were spotted loading the illegally sawn Tanguile Red Lawan lumber in a hand tractor trailer being towed by an improvised owner type jeep with hand tractor engine locally known as “tora-tora.

Moreover, Pine lumber were confiscated at Sitio  Anani, Kilong, Sagada, Mountain Province last week, while Narra flitches loaded in a white L300 FB van were confiscated in Barangay Tabiog, Bucay, Abra.

In Paracelis, Mountain Province, pieces of Guijo and “Binuang” lumber were confiscated in Sitio Baay, Barangay Bacarri and in Sitio Katubangan, Palitod, respectively.  

In all arrests by the PNP, the suspected illegal loggers failed to show pertinent documents which led to their arrest.

As the election season goes deep, those concerned should all the more be watchful. The illegals, including land grabbers and illegal loggers are on the prowl.