The Provincial Board approved the resolution last Tuesday requesting the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to place the Municipality of Bataraza under its control to have a safe, clean, free and peaceful local and national elections this May 13, 2019 as it was a hotspot area for two consecutive polls.
Board Member Marivic Roxas authored the resolution saying that putting Bataraza under COMELEC control will prevent any unlawful acts during the election period. She thinks doing such would result to an orderly and peaceful election.
“Hinighlight na yung Bataraza, kasi in two previous election from 2013 and 2016 election ay alam niyo yun, yung nangyari sa Bataraza. Kaya gusto natin hindi na yun mangyare ulit,” Roxas said. During the 2013 election period, two were killed and six are wounded in a shootng incident in Bataraza between the supporters of two mayoralty bets. While during the 2016 election period, a board member and also a former mayor of Bataraza was ambushed by unidentified armed men in Bgy. Tarusan, Bataraza, Palawan.
The resolution was endorsed to the Provincial Police Office (PPO). Provincial Director S/Supt. Dionisio Bartolome is expected to conduct appropriate and necessary security threat and risk assessment of the situation of the municipality if it could be considered to be under COMELEC control.
Roxas is running for the mayoralty postion of Bataraza this 2019 election and her opponent is Ibrahim Ibba who is also the current mayor of the municipality of Bataraza.