Comelec places 2 Lanao del Sur towns under its control

Two municipalities in Lanao del Sur, Tubaran and Malabang, have been placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) pursuant to a March 25 resolution by the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Safety Concerns (CBFSC).

Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan stated that Malabang was placed under Comelec control due to a spate of killings, while Tubaran has a history of election-related violence.

The Comelec's decision, made in late March, was only announced on April 19, three weeks after the resolution was passed.

The delay in the announcement was unusual, as media outlets had made multiple follow-ups regarding the list of election concern areas.

The Comelec had previously cited its own validation process as the reason for withholding the release of the list.

These areas are now under Comelec control to prevent further outbreak of violence during the May 9 elections.

The Comelec will also investigate supposed election-related violence in Bukidnon and Davao.