BANGUED, Abra – Some political quarters and sectors in this conflict-stricken province are now pushing for the immediate declaration of Abra under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the light of the increasing hostilities and challenges being encountered by the country’s electoral process.
In a statement issued by suspended Vice Gov. Maria Jocelyn Valera-Bernos, she pointed out that the integrity of the country’s electoral process is the cornerstone of democracy, thus, every Abreno should be able to exercise his or her gift to vote freely or fairly.
However, she claimed that the people of the province were able to witness various incidents that allegedly threaten the said fundamental right to suffrage such as violence, intimidation and the alleged manipulation of the electoral process.
The suspended governor explained that the aforesaid actions allegedly insult and undermine the very essence of the rights of the people and prevailing democratic principles.
According to her, when her local political party and their supporters made public their intentions to file for various elected positions in Abra in August 2024, attacks began against them.
She narrated that since August 2024, there were 15 incidents of harassment, intimidation among others that resulted to the untimely demise of many of their party members and supporters that justifies their strong recommendation and plea for the poll body to already consider declaring Abra under its control to ensure the fair, honest, orderly, safe and free conduct of the electoral process and the upcoming May 12, 2025 mid-term elections.
The suspended provincial official underscored that as the country approaches the election day, it is crucial and imperative that the Comelec ensure a fair, transparent and peaceful electoral process which people had been longing for through the years.
On the other hand, sources, who requested anonymity for personal and political reasons, argued that those prodding the poll body to place Abra under Comelec control have no moral ascendancy to do so because of earlier reported violent incidents allegedly involving their party members that casts doubts on the merits behind the aforesaid request.
For the first quarter of the year, there were some 18 alleged violent incidents that were reported in the different parts of the province that raised concern among the people on the safety and security of the province during the conduct of the upcoming elections.
In the early 1990s, Abra had been branded as the killing fields of Northern because of the proliferation of violent incidents that resulted to the untimely demise of many politicians and their supporters.
The peace and order in the province was eventually restored in the conduct of the May 2007 mid-term elections that extended up to the past several conduct of the political exercise that allowed the people to restore their trust and confidence to the country’s electoral process.
Many sectors in the province are keeping their fingers crossed that the conduct of the May 12 polls will remain peaceful and orderly amidst the earlier reported violent incidents. Contributed article
