MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is recommending that Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte be placed under its control ahead of the May 12 midterm polls. 

Comelec chairman George Garcia made this revelation after the election officer of the town was shot dead Wednesday morning, along with her husband. 

Garcia told the media that he will personally make the formal proposal to the commission en banc to place Datu Odin Sinsuat under Comelec control after the killing of election officer Atty. Maceda Lidasa-Abo and her husband, Jojo Abo.   

“Ako mismo ay magrerekomenda sa en banc na ang Datu Odin Sinsuat ay ilagay sa Comelec control. Election officer namin yun eh. Part ng pamilya namin…sobra po kaming lungkot. We will have full and absolute control in the area,” Garcia said.

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According to Garcia, members of the en banc received the information that the Abo couple was killed aboard their vehicle while on their way to work around past 8:00 Wednesday morning along the Cotabato-Shariff Aguak road in Barangay Makir. 

Comelec officials offered a moment of silence and prayer for the two, said Garcia. 

“Napakalungkot na pangyayari ang pagpaslang sa aming Election Officer sa Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, si Atty Maceda Abo. Kasama asawa niya nagdadrive ng sasakyan. Tinambangan kanina lamang. Nakakalungkot. Present siya sa panahon na tayo ay andun sa Maguindanao kung saan nagpirmahan ng walang karahasan sa halalan. Present siya dun. Nakausap pa natin,” he lamented. 

“Kaya ako mismo magre-recommend sa Comelec en banc na ang Datu Odin Sinsuat ay ilagay sa Comelec Control. Upang kahit paano, may ilan ng karahasan na nangyari nitong nakaraang linggo at buwan eh sa lugar na yan. Nararapat na lang na malagay sa Comelec control. Sabi na natin huwag Comelec employees namin at botante nasasaktan or i-terrorize. Hindi papayag Comelec sa ganyang bagay,” Garcia added. 

Under Comelec control, Garcia explained, the commission will have the full and absolute control over the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and even the local government units.

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Garcia said they will release clear guidelines and policy on how to implement Comelec control. 

“We will have full and absolute control of the area. Nag-warning na kami n'un, huwag niyo pabayaan Comelec makialam ng sobra sa peace and order sa area na ito. We will  lay down the guidelines and policy kung paano papatupad ang Comelec control kung sakali panigan ito ng mga kasama sa en banc,” Garcia explained. 

Expect more police personnel, soldiers from the AFP and checkpoints, according to Garcia. 

“Kung sakali sa area hindi kami papayag na hindi bigyan security ang ating local Comelec sa area. Kailangan damihan presence ng AFP, PNP pati checkpoint sa area. Kung kailangan, tanggalan gun ban exemption na issued. Mahigpit ipapatupad no firearms at pagkumpiska ng illegal firearms sa area,” the poll body chairperson said. 

Comelec has the sole authority to place an area under its control and it does not need concurrence from government law enforcement agencies. 

“Comelec lang magdedeklara nun. We expect na ang security forces will just follow simply because deputized natin ang PNP at AFP,” Garcia explained. 

Garcia hopes to release the guidelines before the start of official campaign for local candidates on Friday, March 28.