Comelec mulls placing Maguindanao provinces under its control amid violence

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is considering placing both Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur under its control amid reports of violent incidents ahead of the 45-day local campaign period for Eleksyon 2025. 

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia on Thursday said this is based on the recommendations of the poll body’s personnel and violent incidents they have monitored in the said provinces.

“Mayroon ding lumalabas na panukala mula sa aming tauhan sa field na kahit buong Maguindanao ay ilagay sa Comelec control, kasama ang Maguindanao South,” Garcia told reporters. “Yan ay pinag-iisipan namin”. 

(We received recommendations from our personnel to place the whole Maguindanao province under Comelec control. We are studying this.)

On Wednesday, Garcia said he would personally recommend to the Comelec en banc of placing the municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte under the control of the poll body following a fatal ambush that left an election officer and her spouse dead. 

The Comelec has yet to learn the motive for the killing. However, he earlier said EO Atty. Maceda L. Abo requested a security detail from the poll body. 

“Base sa pinaka latest na text sa atin, hindi naman pala nanghingi ng security personnel ang election officer. Ngayon, hindi mandatory pero ino-offer namin sa ating election officers… ang aming security personnel from AFP at PNP,” said Garcia.

(Based on the latest development, she did not ask for a security detail. Now, we are offering security personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police  for our election officers.)

“Ginagawa din namin ng paraan kung paano sila mabibigyan ng emergency risk allowance para kahit paano may pantulong sa mabibigyan ng security personnel,” he said. 

(We’re also looking for ways to provide emergency risk allowances for them.)

Once under their control, Garcia earlier said the Comelec would have absolute control of a city or municipality. Additional security personnel and checkpoints will likewise be deployed in the area.

Cops to be deployed as ERBs

Meanwhile, Garcia said the poll body will deploy police officers trained as election registration board (ERB) members in Maguindanao del Norte during the May 12 polls.

“Malamang ang gagamitin naming ERB personnel sa Maguindanao ay mga PNP,” said Garcia. 

(There is the possibility we will use PNP personnel as ERB members.)

“We will now be mobilizing yung mga tine-train namin na PNP personnel…Sinasabi ko na po, wina-warningan natin ang lahat: huwag gagalawin ang mga tauhan namin…at mga botante…Iba ang ipapatupad ng Comelec na kamay na bakal sa mga lugar na ito,” he added. 

(We will now be mobilizing the police officers we trained. We are issuing a warning against those behind these attacks, do not harm our personnel and the electorate. The Comelec will be very strict in these areas.)

In January, the Comelec announced they would train at least 7,000 cops to serve as backup poll workers for the upcoming midterm polls, replacing teachers who might withdraw as ERB members. —RF, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.