A mayoralty candidate has asked the Commission on Elections to place the town of Tubao, La Union under its control for the May polls amid the presence of private armies and a series of “threats, harassment, and coercion by incumbent officials” against voters there.
Eliseo dela Paz, a retired police general who is running for Tubao mayor, wrote to Comelec Region 1 regional election director Atty. Ederlino U. Tabilas on April 5 to formally request for the agency’s help in ensuring fair and peaceful elections in the municipality.
“I come to your good office to convey the plea of my constituents for a fair and peaceful election. An election free from harassment and coercion, where the people of Tubao, La Union can freely cast their vote without any fear of reprisal. Thus, it is the fervent hope of the people of Tubao, La Union that our municipality be placed under Comelec control,” Dela Paz said.
“The political atmosphere in our municipality can only be characterized as volatile at best. There is a current intense rivalry between our team and the team of Dante S. Garcia, the incumbent mayor of Tubao, La Union, who is also currently running as congressman for the 2nd District of La Union,” Dela Paz said.
He said there were enough grounds to declare Tubao under Comelec control as provided for under Section 3 of Comelec Resolution No. 1048., including a history of or current intense rivalry among the contending parties, and that the area has been previously declared under Comelec control.
It means violence maybe facilitated by the employment of private armed groups, and where unqualified individuals use loose firearms, Dela Paz said.
Garcia could not be reached for comment as of press time.
La Union residents earlier expressed alarm over the series of political killings in La Union province, starting with the murder of former La Union 2nd District Rep. Eufranio “Franny” Eriguel on May 12, 2018.
Eriguel’s death started a string of high-profile killings in the province. Sudipen Mayor Alexander Buquing was also killed along with his security escort in October, and Balaoan Vice Mayor Alfred Concepcion was slain in November. Concepcion’s daughter, Mayor Aleli Concepcion, was wounded in the same incident.
Dela Paz said there were serious armed threats posed by other paramilitary forces, private armies or identifiable armed bands widely perceived to have committed terrorism, fraud or other election irregularities.
They threaten or tend to disrupt the holding of free, peaceful, honest, orderly and credible elections in Tubao, he added.
“Members of our team and those that are known to be affiliated with us have experienced and received numerous harassments and threats from people who are known to be affiliated with the group of Mayor Dante S. Garcia. A number of people who are seen mingling with our group have been invited in the house of Mayor Dante S. Garcia only to be scolded and threatened,” dela Paz said.
He said there is also a history of intense political rivalry in Tubao where previous elections have been marred with bloodshed and violence. “A number of people who are vocal in their opposition to the current administration have been killed by unknown assailants,” he said.
Dela Paz also mentioned numerous reports from Tubao residents that they saw Garcia being surrounded by a number of suspicious looking individuals carrying long firearms.
“These unscrupulous individuals are not members of the PNP and the AFP, thus, might fall under the category of private armed groups. Also, with the current gun ban in effect, I believe that the firearms that these men are carrying are unlicensed,” he said.
However, our constituents are afraid to come forward and/or execute an affidavit for fear of retaliation from the group of Mayor Dante S. Garcia,” the former police general added.
“Moreover, Mayor Dante S. Garcia has been using the Office of the Mayor and his powers as mayor to push for his congressional bid and to promote the candidacy of his niece as mayor of Tubao.”
Garcia is using the elected barangay captains and other barangay leaders in the municipality to sow fear and to ensure that he keeps a hold of the municipality, dela Paz said in the letter to Comelec.
“He is also threatening people of our municipality who are engaged in legitimate businesses that he will not allow the issuance or renewal of their permits if they oppose him or support my candidacy,” he added.
The only wish of the constituents is to finally experience an election free from coercion, violence and harassment, dela Paz said.
“We pray that our request to place our municipality of Tubao, La Union be granted so we could finally free ourselves from the shackles of an oppressive and violent regime,” he added.