Poll chief George Erwin Garcia on Thursday said it is still “premature” to place Cagayan under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after Rizal, Cagayan Mayor Joel Ruma was gunned down during a campaign sortie.
“Hinihintay namin ang official report ng PNP. Tinitingnan natin kung saan category sila sa kasalukyan at pupwede naming maincrease ang category from orange to red. At the same time kung kinakailangan kaming magdagdag ng pwersa, kaagad namin dadagdagan,” Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB.
(We are still waiting for the official PNP report. We will also look into the present category of Cagayan and may place them under the red category of the election areas of concern. At the same time, we will deploy additional security forces if needed.)
“Ang paglalagay sa Comelec control, at this point, masyadong premature pa,” he said.
(It is still premature to declare them under Comelec control.)
Based on a police report, Ruma was shot at 9:30 p.m., sustaining an entrance gunshot wound on his right shoulder and an exit gunshot wound on his upper-to-middle right back chest.
He was brought to Tuao District Hospital but declared dead on arrival at 10:31 p.m.
Aside from Ruma, two others were also injured in the shooting incident. One of them sustained a gunshot wound on his right elbow, while the other was wounded in the chest and lower back.
The Comelec has declared two areas in the country — Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte — ahead of Eleksyon 2025 due to reported incidences of violence in the municipalities.
Under Comelec control, the poll body will have immediate and direct control and supervision over antional and local official and employees. It will also have full control and supervision over all national and local law enforcement agencies.
The Philippines will hold its midterm elections on May 12. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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