Garcia: No need for Comelec control in Socorro, Surigao del Norte for now

The Commission on Elections on Wednesday said it currently sees no need to place Socorro town in Surigao del Norte under Comelec control for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), despite cult allegations against an organization there.

“Ako para sa akin hindi pa. Maliwanag na maliwanag, hindi pa,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia told GMA Integrated News’ Tina Panganiban-Perez.

Comelec Chair George Garcia on Comelec control for Socorro, Surigao del Norte: Hindi pa. @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/vfNT27mjrT

— Tina PanganibanPerez (@tinapperez) September 27, 2023

“Kanina sa en banc binigyan ko rin sila ng assessment at sinabi sa kanila there’s nothing to panic about. Hindi tayo kinakailangan mag-worry dahil binigyan ako ng magandang assessment ng Comelec field personnel, at ng AFP, PNP, at Coast Guard,” Garcia said.

(I gave the en banc a positive assessment a while ago. I told them there was nothing to panic about because the Comelec personnel, AFP, PNP, and Coast Guard also gave me a positive assessment.)

On Tuesday, the Comelec chief said the Caraga Region remains under the “green” category ahead of the BSKE, adding the issues involving the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI)  are not related to the preparations for the October 30 polls.

Areas in the “green” category have no reported security concerns or are relatively peaceful and orderly.

Garcia, however, said the poll body will monitor the Senate hearing on the issue, slated to begin on Thursday, September 28.

“Sabi ko sa regional director ng PNP ng Caraga region…baka naman after ng hearing nila doon sa Senado bukas baka pwede ko makausap…yung ibang tao na naimbitahan para maipahayag naman ng Comelec kung ano ang ating sentimiyento at ano ang gusto natin mangyari at ine-expect dun sa lugar sa mismong municipality upang maging maayos ang pag-conduct ng halalan,” he added.

(I asked the PNP if I could talk to the SBSI after the Senate hearing to share the Comelec’s sentiments, and our expectations in conducting the polls there.)

The SBSI currently has some 4,000 members who are residing in Sitio Kapihan. They are set to appear before a Senate committee after facing allegations of rape and child marriages, illegal drug involvement, and building a private army.

The Socorro local government has also called on the SBSI members to return to their homes, saying that hundreds of dwellings have been abandoned as the organization settled in Sitio Kapihan in 2019.

According to Garcia, the SBSI community is at least five kilometers away from the nearest school where eligible residents could cast their votes for the BSKE.

Asked if the Comelec is considering putting up an election precinct in Sitio Kapihan, he said: “Ang problema natin at 'yun ang gusto nating alamin lalo na sa magiging pagdinig bukas sa ating Senado ay pwede ba nating gawin 'yun?

(That’s what we want to know. Will it be possible?)

“Secured ba lahat ng mga tao natin na pupunta doon? Gusto nating tingnan ang mga bagay na yan lalo pa nga at medyo nagkakaron ng alingasngas na problema sa isyu na yan sa Socorro.”

(Will our personnel be secured? We want to look at these things, especially with the issue in Socorro.)

On alert

Ahead of the Senate hearing on Thursday, security forces in Socorro in the entire Siargao Island are on alert. 

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s report on “24 Oras,” besides the police, soldiers were also seen guarding the checkpoint and inspecting every vehicle entering or leaving the area.

At least one resident is apprehensive about how the Senate hearing could affect the area.

“Katakot na bukas. Kasi malalaman kung ano ang desisyon doon sa Senado, medyo matakot din kami,” said Asuncion Basul.

The situation remains normal in town, but some activities have been suspended.

“May pinalabas na order galing sa LGU. ‘Wag muna kami aakyat doon—bukas kasi naka-schedule kami doon—kasi daw magpapalabas na 'yung LGU, press release na standby daw muna 'yung mga activity doon,” said Madel Besas, an alternative learning system (ALS) teacher in Sitio Kapihan.

“Siyempre kailangan nating unahin ‘yung safety natin siyempre ako may pamilya din ako,” said Henry Lubapis, another ALS teacher.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Socorro said that SBSI does not belong to the parish or any Catholic organization. — Sundy Locus and Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News