THE Commission on Elections -Region 8 is faced with a mounting challenge of quelling continuing violence in Samar, characterized by unhindered spate of killings which already claimed four lives just last week.
And the number could dangerously rise as local candidates go to the campaign trail once campaign period for local elections kicks off next month.
Growing unrest
In what seems to be a prelude of more election -related unrests, on February 6, an ambush took place in Santa Margarita, a neighboring town of Calbayog City, killing three individuals, reportedly political supporters of Emil Soza.
The incident happened as an army battalion from Davao arrived in the area, supposedly to quell off the growing unrest due to the heating political conflict between warring political parties in the said Samar town.
But an OpinYon 8 source, however, said the victims were members of another private armed group (PAG) and have pending arrest warrant orders.
“They are being used by a prominent Samar politician to face off with the PAGs of his political opponents,” the O8 source said.
Assassins
Meanwhile, police authorities have identified the assassins as members of the Managaysay criminal group headed by Jimmy Elbano Managaysay, who was also reportedly responsible for beheading a farmer in Barangay San Jose on May 02, 2018.
Managaysay group is being linked to a prominent political family in the said province.
Another ambush
In a related development, on Feb. 8, just two days after the ambush in Santa Margarita, while the 3rd Infantry Battalion from Davao was being ceremoniously received at the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in Catabalogan City, a group of Sanguniang Kabataan was ambushed in Barangay Osmena, Calbayog City – killing one and wounding two others.
The Comelec is yet to officially classify the province of Samar, or specifically the city of Calbayog and its neighboring municipality Santa Margarita as election hotspots.
Areas of concern
In 2019, Sta. Margarita was declared as one of the areas of concern due to its intense political rivalries and alleged presence of armed groups in the areas. Politically motivated?
Police authorities are now looking into the possibility that the incidents could be politically motivated, especially so that election period is drawing near.
Potentially just a run up for more distressing weeks in the months ahead before the May 22 elections.
Authorities said what happened in Santa Margarita could be an encounter between rival private armed groups (PAGs) hired by warring political forces in Samar province.
Killbayog
To recall, on March 8, 2021, Calbayog Mayor Aquino and two others with him was fatally ambushed by high ranking police officers.
Aquino and his close-in bodyguards were on board a white van and cruising through Laboyao Bridge in the city’s Lonoy village heading north when fired at by gunmen riding two cars.
The police officers involve were now indicted, facing several counts of murder and frustrated murder charges.
While the said incident has been linked to politics, with one police witness dragging political personalities as masterminds, the prosecutors easily dismissed the claim as but an “afterthought”.
Calbayog City had witnessed a series of shooting incidents that targeted local government officials.
On Oct. 8, 2020, former City Councilor Jessie Jackson was shot dead on broad daylight while driving a motorcycle along the major highway.
Tans vs. Sozas
The Tans in Samar, touted yet as the political powerhouse in this poverty stricken province had long history of political war against the retired military official Emil Soza.
In 2013 and 2016 elections, Soza ran and lost on his successive bids to unseat then Samar Governor Mila Tan, mother of current Samar Governor Michael Tan.
Earlier in 2021, Soza was rumored to challenge again the younger Tans for provincial leadership post.
Later however, it was his wife, incumbent Santa Margarita Mayor Gemma Soza who filed for governor instead, and him settling for the mayoralty post in their political turf.
The lady Soza will square off on May elections against Congresswoman Shaaree Ann Tan, as incumbent Samar Governor Michael Tan who is just on his first term has switched position with Sharee Ann.
The other Tan sibling Stephen James Tan is bidding again for congressman in the 1st District of Samar against incumbent Congressman Edgar Mary S. Sarmiento.
In September last year, Emil Soza has been charged of murder for allegedly masterminding the killing of Enrique Mañas sometime on July 23, 2017, Mañas was a political leader and supporter of the Tans.