By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to formally place Moises Padilla under their control. According to Provincial election supervisor, Atty. Tictac Villanueva, they are still awaiting an order from the Comelec central office.

Calls for the town to be place under Comelec control have been raised after the recent killings of local officials, along with earlier clashes between government forces and the New People’s Army. Aside from Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson recommending Comelec control over the municipality, the Western Visayas Regional Joint Security Control Center earlier signed a resolution making the same recommendation.

Moises Padilla is currently designated a “Category Red,” which means there is an intense political rivalry and presence of armed groups.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army, with authority from the Comelec-Negros Occidental, deployed 150 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers to Moises Padilla./DGB, WDJ