(UPDATE) THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is studying the possibility of placing the province of Sulu under its control following the ambush of Comelec provincial supervisor Vidzfar Julie Amil in Zamboanga City on Saturday.
Gunshots fired by men on a motorcycle at Amil’s car missed him but killed his older brother, Naser.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Sunday the incident would be studied thoroughly to determine if it was election-related.
He said the commission must be very careful in deciding to place an area under its control or even consider it an area of concern because it could seriously affect its reputation.
Comelec also needs to consult with the Philippine National Police (PNP) before making a decision, Garcia said.
Comelec can assume control of an area if it has a history of intense political rivalry.
It can also take over if there is violence instigated by private armed groups (PAGs) or if there are serious armed threats posed by communist insurgents and terrorist groups like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the Abu Sayyaf or the Maute Group.
Garcia said that Comelec’s authority over election-related matters would only begin at the start of the election period in January.
Initial investigation revealed that the gunmen were riding a white Honda motorcycle and wearing black jackets and full-face helmets.
The Zamboanga City police said they have identified two persons of interest that could shed light on the incident.
Investigators were trying to determine if it was politically motivated and who the actual target was, considering that the elder Amil was a former barangay chairman.
The PNP has submitted to the Comelec a list of potential election areas of concern in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections and parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The areas are still subject to validation by the Comelec as head of the Joint Security Council.
In a statement, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said only the Comelec could make a declaration following a validation process.
Based on the latest Comelec data, the BARMM, which consists of the predominantly Muslim provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, still has the highest number of villages tagged as hotspots since the last elections in 2022.
Sulu was originally part of the region until the Supreme Court ruled it was not.
During the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the number of areas placed under the “red” category rose to 361 from 242. The majority of the areas were from BARMM.
Garcia said Comelec expects about 500,000 candidates vying for the 18,280 national and local positions in next year’s elections.
There are 12 slots for senators, 254 for district representatives, 63 for party-list groups, 82 for governors, 82 for vice governors, `800 for provincial council members, 149 for city mayors, 149 for city vice mayors, 1,682 for city council members, 1,493 for municipal mayors, 1,493 for municipal vice mayors, 11,948 for municipal council members, and 25 for BARMM parliament members and 40 for BARMM party-list representatives.
On Sunday, the Workers and Peasants’ Party (WPP) condemned the Zamboanga ambush.
The group also condemned the killing of the acting election officer of Nunungan, Lanao del Norte, Mark Orlando Vallecer II, last month.
“Condemnation is not enough on these senseless acts of violence and assaults on democracy itself; we need to bring the perpetrators to justice,” WPP President Sonny Matula said.
The party also called for swift justice and urged authorities to ensure the safety of election officials.
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