Comelec names Pipo as Datu Odin Sinsuat administrator for Eleksyon 2025

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has named Commissioner Noli Pipo as the administrator of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, following the declaration that it will be under the poll body's control ahead of the 2025 national and local elections (NLE).

“Ang aming pinag-usapan ay si Commissioner Noli Pipo ang aming ilalagay na administrator,” poll chairperson George Erwin Garcia told reporters Monday.

(Based on our discussions, Commissioner Noli Pipo will be the administrator.)

“Si Commissioner Pipo ay may karanasan sa field…at may karanasan sa Bangsamoro bilang nagsilbi as regional director dati,” he said.

(Commissioner Pipo has experience in the field and has served as Comelec regional director of Bangsamoro before.)

On Friday, Garcia announced the municipality is formally under Comelec control following a fatal ambush attack that left an election officer and her spouse dead.

The poll body issued Comelec Resolution No. 11126 formalizing the declaration and Pipo’s designaton as its administrator. It likewise outlines the guidelines for the power and limitations of the administrator over areas under Comelec control.

However, Garcia said the Comelec will not interfere with the local governance in Datu Odin Sinsuat.

“Unlimited halos ang power ng administrator reporting to the Comelec en banc. Basta siguraduhin na walang karahasan na mangyayari. Number two, hindi tatakutin ang mga teachers at botante natin. Magkakaroon nang maayos na elections sa area na 'yan,” he added.

(The administrator has unlimited power but he needs to make sure there is no violence in the area. No teachers or voters will also be threatened and the May polls will be safe and peaceful.)

On March 26, election officer Atty. Maceda L. Abo and her husband died after unidentified gunmen fired shots at her vehicle as they were traversing the Cotabato-Sharrif Aguak Road in Barangay Makir.

Garcia earlier said he would personally recommend placing Datu Odin Sinsuat under Comelec control following the fatal incident.

Meanwhile, the Comelec reiterated that residents of Datu Odin Sinsuat do not need to worry over the declaration, saying it is meant to ensure peace and safety in the area during the May elections.

“Sa mga kababayan natin sa Datu Odin Sinsuat, normal po ang pamumuhay natin. Wala po tayong makikita halos na gagawin ng Comelec. Nandu'n ang declaration para anytime the power is there that you can utilize and use sa mga susunod na araw,” Garcia added.

(To our countrymen in Datu Odin Sinsuat, normal life continues. Comelec will not do anything drastic. We only declared it under our control so the power will be there anytime. You can use it in the coming days.)

Comelec resolution

Under Comelec Resolution No. 11126, the roles of various government agencies including the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Finance (DOF), and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and as stipulated under Sections 104, 105, and 106 of Comelec Resolution No. 11067 shall be strictly enforced.

The police, military, and Coast Guard are also directed to immediately deploy personnel, equipment, vehicles, mobility assets, and other transportation facilities as required by Comelec.

The Philippines will hold its 2025 NLE on May 12. —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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