Garcia on placing Quezon Province under Comelec control: 'I'll be the first to oppose'
By Dhel Nazario
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Erwin Garcia urged on Monday, April 18 the people of the Province of Quezon to maintain peace in their area for the upcoming May 2022 elections.

Garcia made the statement during the signing of a peace covenant in Lucena City. There, he once again clarified that their visits does not mean that there is current disorder in the area. Local candidates were present during the ceremony, where they signed Comelec's integrity pledge printed on a tarpaulin.
Garcia even informed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in his speech that the Province of Quezon in his 20 years of practice, is not disorganized compared with other areas.
"Kung may ibang mga (If there are other) forces here in Quezon, it's not because of the politician. Ako kaya ko pong panumpaan yung bagay na yan (I can swear on that)," he stated.
Back in March, Garcia said that they want to be very careful in declaring an area under Comelec control because they do not want to hurt the regularity of the lives of the people in that particular area. Garcia also mentioned that this declaration can affect businesses, tourism as well as the lives of the people living there since their movements will be restricted.
"It will create an environment that will practically destroy the normalcy of the area," he said.
He urged the townsfolk to help the Comelec, the AFP, the PNP, the various sectors as well as the different stakeholders to maintain a peaceful conduct of the elections in the area.
"I'll be the first to oppose any attempt to place Quezon under Comelec control. That should not happen, we will not do that," he said.
But he explained that under extreme circumstances, they can place an entire area under Comelec control.
According to Garcia, they are set to visit Abra where a recent armed conflict occurred for another peace covenant. He said that he will go there along with Pangarungan not because of what happened but because they want to instill discipline and peace and show that the Comelec will be in full control of the situation.
They are also set to visit Basilan, Sulu as well as Tawi-Tawi not because there is an ongoing conflict there but due to the fact that these are traditional grounds of violence, he said. The poll body is also planning to go to General Santos to visit Cotabato City and Maguindanao.