20 hours Ago By Gualberto Laput
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, Philippines – Authorities have identified two cities and two towns in Zamboanga del Norte as “areas of concern” due to the possibility of election-related violence. Philippine National Police-Zamboanga del Norte Director Reinier Diaz said the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) listed the cities of Dipolog and Dapitan, together with the towns of Mutia and Sirawai, as areas under category “yellow,” with the possibility of politically motivated violence. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the police have classified security risks during the election period into four categories: “red” for severe or high-risk areas, “orange” for moderate risk, “yellow” for low risk, and “green” for safe areas.
Colonel Diaz cited the political rivalry between the Uy and Jalosjos political groups as a concern. In Dipolog, the Uy stronghold, Zamboanga del Norte Governor Rosalina Jalosjos is running for mayor against a member of the Uy political clan. Meanwhile, in Dapitan, the Jalosjos bailiwick, former Dipolog mayor Evelyn Uy is challenging Sushmita Jalosjos, daughter of political figure Romeo Jalosjos, for the mayoralty.
“There is a possibility that passionate supporters from both sides would get into direct confrontation that if not controlled could escalate into violent incidents,” Diaz said. The most violent period in Zamboanga del Norte’s political history occurred between 2013 and 2016, when a series of killings, strafing, and harassment incidents were blamed on a police force accused of siding with the Uy family under Colonel Reynaldo Maclang. Peace covenant snub Meanwhile, about half of the 33 aspirants for governor, vice governor, congress, and board members skipped the peace covenant signing initiated by the police on Monday, March 10.
Provincial Election Officer Roberto dela Pena said the event has become “perfunctory,” or something that has become routine and lacking meaningful impact. “It’s something that we just have to initiate because it is done every election, although we still don’t know if it actually works,” Dela Pena said. Dela Pena acknowledged that peace covenant signings hold no legal weight.
“In the peace covenant signing, if you cannot fulfill what you have signed, you cannot be charged in court,” he said. He added that candidates are unlikely to face consequences for failing to adhere to the pledge since the document is written positively, avoiding statements like “I will not buy votes” or “I will not kill my opponent.” “Peace covenant signing may not be very effective, but one way or another, it helps,” Dela Pena said.
The practice of peace covenant signing began in 1997 as an initiative of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas. The PNP later adopted the tradition, often involving religious leaders, the Comelec, media, and other stakeholders in the ceremonies. Double standard? Dapitan Mayor Seth Frederick Jalosjos, who is running for governor, said ensuring peaceful elections should not rest solely on candidates, stressing the role of government agencies, particularly the police.
On Monday, Jalosjos criticized the police in the Zamboanga Peninsula region for its alleged “double standard,” citing an incident on March 7 when Sindangan Mayor Rosendo Labadlabad’s vehicle allegedly bypassed a checkpoint and was later stopped in Pagadian City. Jalosjos alleged that despite finding guns without Comelec exemptions in Labadlabad’s convoy, the police released him and his group. “The police released Labadlabad with his two police and Army escorts despite finding out that the high-powered firearms they were carrying did not have Comelec exemptions,” Jalosjos said.
He contrasted this with a February 4 incident in Davao City, where police arrested Nabalawag town Mayor Anwar Saluwang and his escorts for possessing firearms without Comelec exemptions. Labadlabad is not seeking election this year, but his wife, Representative Glona Labadlabad, is running for Sindangan mayor, while their daughter Irene is vying for a congressional seat in Zamboanga del Norte’s 2nd District. – Rappler.
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