Calbayog City, 3 Samar towns
identified as election areas of immediate concern
By ELI C. DALUMPINES (PIA
Samar)
February 9, 2007
CATBALOGAN, Samar – Due to a
number of election-related violence that took place in last two elections,
Calbayog City was identified by the Philippine National Police (PNP) here as an
election area of immediate concern.
In a recent police report,
Samar PNP placed the City on top of the list election "hot spots" due to the
intense political rivalry that exists between political leaders in the area.
Lately, Former 1st District
Congressman Rodolfo Tuazon of the ruling Lakas Party confirmed his intention to
run as City Mayor this coming May elections against the incumbent Mel Sarmiento
who is allied with Congressman Reynaldo S. Uy of the Liberal Party.
In the 2004 elections, a
number of election-related violence have been recorded in the City reportedly
perpetrated by the Partisan Armed Groups (PAGs) allegedly maintained by both
camps.
It was in the same political
rivalry that cost the life of Tarangnan Mayor Anieto Olaje who was shot dead
inside the Calbayog City Cockpit last 2004. Olaje was identified with the camp
of Tuazon.
Aside from these political
conflicts, however, the presence of the communist rebels has also been reported.
The Central Front Committee 2 and the Northern Front Committee 1 of the New
People’s Army (NPA) is operating in the area.
The police authorities
likewise identified the towns of San Jorge and Gandara of the 1st District and
Daram of the 2nd District under the same category.
San Jorge Mayor Joseph Grey
has already announced his intention to run as congressman in the 1st district
against the incumbent Congressman Uy. Both camps are allegedly maintaining PAGs.
The recent killing of Daram
Mayor Benito Astorga, on the other hand, put the town in the limelight. Astorga
was shot dead by two assailants last January 25 while attending a fiesta dance
in the town’s island barangay Birawan.
The police noted a long
standing feud between the Astorga and the camp of Samar ’s 2nd district
congressman Catalino Figueroa.
Samar PNP Chief SSupt Asdali
Idja Abah in an earlier interview vowed to run after these PAGs to ensure a more
peaceful and orderly elections in
Samar.
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PDSP full support to Grey's congressional bid in Samar assured
