BY: CHARLES NIKKO LIMON
A civil society group in Abra has appealed to the newly installed provincial police director to address the growing incidents of violence in the province.
This call comes amid rising public concern and renewed appeals to place Abra under the control of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ahead of the upcoming elections.
Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Government, Inc. made the appeal following recent shootings in the capital town of Bangued, including a fatal incident on March 26 at a café in Barangay Zone 4 that claimed the lives of teacher Odilon Peria and dentist Dr. Francisco Beria Jr. CCTV footage from that night showed empty streets and closed establishments as early as 8:00 PM, indicating the growing fear among residents.
“People are afraid. People feel helpless,” said Fr. Adonis Bringas, the group’s chairman.He pointed out that the surge in violence, even if not election-related, has deeply affected the local economy and daily life. “Businesses close early, and fewer people go out in the streets,” he added.
In a formal statement, the group urged the COMELEC, Philippine National Police (PNP), and the local government to act swiftly and decisively.
They reiterated their recommendation to place Abra under COMELEC control and called on political candidates to uphold voters’ rights and avoid exploiting poverty through vote buying.
COMELEC Chairman George Garcia has earlier warned that the commission will not hesitate to place Abra under its control once more if violence persists. “Don’t test the patience of the Commission,” Garcia said, noting that Abra had been under COMELEC control during the 2022 national elections and the Barangay and SK polls.
In the midst of growing tensions, Police Colonel Froiland Lopez officially returned as the director of the Abra Police Provincial Office on April 2.
He replaced PCOL Gilbert Fati-ig, who now heads the Regional Operations Division.
Lopez vowed to tighten security in the province, particularly in enforcing the election gun ban.
Police data show that 14 shooting incidents occurred in March alone, with at least one of the victims being a candidate for municipal councilor in Pilar town.
