THE Commissions on Elections has identified this trading hub of about 260,000 registered voters as one of the cities and towns under its “watchlist” in Northern Mindanao.
Police Supt. Ronnie Francis Cariaga, the regional police chief of operations, said that the 21 towns and cities are now being closely monitored for “intense political rivalry.”
He said that the candidates in Cagayan De Oro City are locked in a fierce three-cornered rivalry among Mayor Oscar S. Moreno, who is running for re-election, former Mayor Vicente Y. Emano, head of the popular opposition group, and Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez, who is serving his last term in Congress.
Cariaga said that although the three contenders are civil in their pre-campaign sorties, there are fears that supporters of either of the candidates would erupt into violence, thus the PNP is focused on monitoring poll-related circumstances here.
It is in Cagayan de Oro City that Moreno was dismissed by the Ombudsman last November only to hurriedly get a preliminary injunction from the Court of Appeals, thus preventing Vice Mayor Caesar Ian E. Acenas, a known Emano ally, from taking over.
Next on the watchlist is the neighboring City of Iligan where the rivalry between detained City Mayor Celso G. Regencia and Vice Mayor Ruderic C. Marzo for the mayoral post becomes intense.
Cariaga said that Regencia, who is running for re-election, is jailed on frustrated murder charges filed by Rep. Vicente F. Belmonte Jr. who was ambushed and wounded in a daring 2014 assassination attempt. Marzo is Belmonte’s ally.
He said that the municipalities of Kauswagan and Pantao Ragat, all in Lanao Del Norte are also being closely monitored.
Cariaga cited the January 9 shooting incident in Kauswagan, Lanao Del Norte between supporters of disqualified Mayor Rommel C. Arnado and his challenger, Florante Capitan, which made the town in the election watch list.
He said that the police regional command is also monitoring five criminal gangs in Northern Mindanao, whose members are normally hired by political candidates. Cariaga did not mention the provincial origins of the criminal gangs.