Gov. Valera condemns election-related violence in Abra, seeks aid from law enforcers

Bangued, Abra – Governor Dominic Valera has condemned reported election violence in Abra in a statement released Thursday, Oct. 12.

The condemnation came after 122 candidates for the village and youth polls in the province were reportedly forced to withdraw their candidacies due to threats and harassment they received from armed civilian groups.

Some 44 board of election inspectors likewise backed out of managing the polls due to the same reason.

“We strongly condemn these vicious terrorizing acts committed by these civilian groups who were reportedly armed with high-powered firearms,” the governor said in a statement.

He then called on police officers, members of the Philippine Army, and other law enforcement agencies to help them 'suppress all threats against the safety and security of all Abreños and to continuously ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections.’

“As the father of the Abreños, idawat ko unay kanyatayo amin, mairaman dagitoy tattao nga akin aramid iti kastoy nga mapaspasamak iti ili iti Bucay, nga pagtalinaeden tayo kuma iti linak ken talna tapno maituloy tayo iti panagprogreso ken panagasenso iti probinsia ti Abra, para kadagiti umili a serserbian tayo,” he conveyed.

To recall, apart from reports of candidates backing out of their desired positions, a shootout transpired in Bucay on Oct. 09.

The gun battle involved police officers and some five members of an armed group. One was shot but later died in a hospital in Bangued, while four others fled and have not been arrested as of this writing.

Meanwhile, an initial move, such as deploying police officers to become board of election inspectors, is now being planned by the Commission on Elections in connection with said issue.

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