CAPITOL COMPLEX, PILI CAMARINES SUR (Mar 06 2012) – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Provincial office officially declared Monday (March 5) that the the special mayoral election in the island Barangay of Butawanan, Siruma, Camarines Sur is being postponed for a later unspecified date.
Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Noriel P. Badiola said the postponement of the special election originally scheduled for March 10. was a decision made by the COMELEC commisioners during an en banc session in Manila on Feb. 22. But the cancelation order was received by the provincial COMELEC office here only on Feb 29 and disseminated to concerned agencies, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army this first week of March.
Excerpts from the COMELEC en banc resolution cite security threats as the major reason for the postponement based on a memorandum sent by Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Noriel P. Badiola that talked of sightings of undetermined number of armed men roaming around the island village since mid-February as attested by Police Supt. Alex S. Pederio, chief for operations of the Camarines Sur PNP, and Police Senior Inspector Jerome L. Regachuelo, police chief Siruma town.
The COMELEC en banc further ordered the PNP to validate the information on security threats in the locality. The proposed budget for the PNP to secure the Special polls in the amount of P34,000 for transportation allowance and P64,350 for food allowances, totalling P98,350.00 pesos was approved by COMELEC and considered it within the estimated budget for the conduct of the special polls. However with the poll postponed, the COMELEC en banc resolved to defer the release of the said subsidy funds to the PNP.
During the COMELEC en banc session presided by COMELEC chairman Sixto S. Brillantes Jr., Commissioners Armando C. Velasco and Christian S. Lim voted against the postponement of the Special Election.
In their respective written comments, Velasco said “there is still time to address the peace and order situation” and Lim said “there is no categorical request for cancellation by PNP”.
Camarines Sur provincial police spokesman Police Supt. Carilio Trilles Jr. said COMELEC order came as a surprise to the police because advance forces had already been deployed in the locality.
“Any threat by armed elements can be handled by the PNP force of Camarines Sur in the enforcement of peace and order the Special polls in Siruma,” Trilles claimed.
Critics are puzzled by COMELEC's postponement of the polls and speculations are centered on COMELEC's inability to provide the PNP with needed security funds - which many consider unlikely. Those who see political motives believe this was part of the maneuver to preserve the influence of the "YES" advocates in the on-going tussles over the proposed division of Camarines Sur to create the new province "Nueva Camarines" that shall include the town of Siruma as part of its territory. (SONNY SALES)