Comelec control over Moises Padilla approved

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following recent incidents that have seen two municipal councilors and another former town official killed, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc formally placed Moises Padilla under their control.

According to Comelec regional director, Atty. Jose Nick Mendros, who confirmed the news to Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, Comelec Commissioner Antonio Kho, Jr. will be arriving in Bacolod City today to meet with local Comelec officials, the Philippine National Police, and the military to discuss and formulate an action plan.

He added, a task force will also be created.

Calls for the town to be placed under Comelec control have been raised after the recent killings, along with earlier clashes between government forces and the New People’s Army (NPA). 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.

Over the last few weeks, Moises Padilla Municipal Councilor Jolomar Hilario was gunned down by suspected NPA hitmen; while two other Moises Padilla personalities, Municipal Councilor Michael Garcia and former Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) President Mark Garcia, were killed while campaigning in the town’s Barangay Inolingan.

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