Commission on Elections (Comelec) George Erwin Garcia said on Friday, Oct. 20 that the poll body will not hesitate to use its powers against those who commit or are involved in election-related violence.

"This is a final warning to everyone. Hindi po kami maghehesitate na gamitin ang kapangyarihan ng Comelec (Comelec will not hesitate to use its powers)," Garcia said.

"Huwag naman po sa panahong ito. Magpapahiyaan tayo. Karangalan ng bawat isa nakataya dito (Not during this period. This would be embarassing for all. The honor of everyone is at stake here)," he added.

This was in response to the election-related violence in Abra wherein a  candidate for village councilor was gunned down in Sitio Nagpasinan, Barangay Bangbangcag, Bucay. 

The victim, Catalino Turalba Sr., 52, from Barangay Bangbangcag, was on board a motorcycle with his son when armed men shot him twice. Turalba was taken to a hospital where he died.

After this, the wife of a candidate for barangay chairman in Bucay was allegedly abducted in Parañaque City on Wednesday morning, Oct. 18, to force her husband to withdraw from the elections.

A report from officer-on-case Police Chief Master Sergeant Rolly Iglesia of the Parañaque police identified the victim as Bliss Progreso Loy, 46, a teacher of the Col. E. de Leon Elementary School in Barangay Moonwalk, Parañaque and resident of Multinational Village, Barangay Moonwalk. Loy is the wife of Benjamin Loy, a candidate for chairman in Barangay Abang, Bucay.

"Sa Abra mukhang kinakailangan puntahan din natin doon upang makapanayam ang ating mga tauhan malaman natin ang real situation. Talaga bang tinatakot yung mga kandidato? Talaga bang nagwiwithdraw sila voluntarily? (It looks like we need to go to Abra to talk to our personnel there about the real situation. Are candidates really threatened? Do they withdraw voluntarily?" Garcia said.

He added that they would like to find out if the teachers are afraid to serve out of fear or due to their involvement with the candidates. The poll chief also stated that what's important is for them to know if the local police are prepared to become substitutes as Electoral Board members.

Garcia also warned the candidates there not to test their patience even as the poll body condemned the loss of life as well as any form of threats. 

"Huwag niyo papayagan na ang Comelec mag-interfere or magintervene sa lugar dahil di niyo magugustuhan ang kayang gawin ng Comelec (Don't let Comelec interfere or intervene in the area because you will not like what we can do)," he added.

Meanwhile, Garcia led the "Oplan Baklas" on Friday, dismantling all unlawful campaign materials along Recto Avenue in Manila.

 After this, Garcia said that they would file cases against the candidates who placed the posters.

"Kung araw-araw kayo magkakabit illegally, araw-araw din kaming magbabaklas (If they will put up posters illegally every day, we will take them down every day as well)," he said.

"Hindi po lang importante yung pagbabaklas, yung pagfifile ng kaso. Kasi kahit magbaklas tayo nang magbaklas kung wala kang finifile na kaso, di titigil ang mga yan (Aside from dismantling, the filing of cases is important. Even if we take them down every day but we don't file cases, they will not stop)," he added.

So far, Garcia said that these kinds of violations are mostly present in Metro Manila. One good thing, the poll chief noticed, was that despite the unlawful placement of these posters, they were all in the correct sizes, which was 2x3. 

On the other hand, the distribution of election paraphernalia in the whole country is set to finish on Friday, Oct. 20.

Garcia said that Comelec is ready for election day on Oct. 30, from its security forces, partner agencies, and stakeholders.