Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has strongly condemned the recent killing of Jose Osorio, a former village chief and vice mayoral candidate in South Cotabato province. Osorio, who previously served as the captain of Barangay Bukay Pait in Tantangan town, was found dead in his eatery’s kitchen on Monday morning. The incident has sparked concerns over potential election-related violence.

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia has urged the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to swiftly apprehend those responsible for Osorio’s murder. Garcia expressed his hope that the crime is not connected to the upcoming elections, emphasizing that law enforcement must act decisively even outside of the election period to assure the public of their safety.

Garcia also highlighted the limitations of Comelec’s authority, noting that the commission cannot place any area under its control until the official election period beg
ins on January 12, 2025. “Outside of the election period, we cannot put any area of the country under Comelec control or classify an area as an area of concern. All of these are law enforcement issues,” he stated during the 1st National Convention of Election Officers in Pasay City.

Despite these constraints, Garcia assured that Comelec would utilize its powers and resources to prevent violence once the election period commences. Meanwhile, police investigations are ongoing to determine whether Osorio’s murder was motivated by personal grudges or election-related issues. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots on Sunday night but initially ignored the noise. Osorio’s relatives have indicated that he had no known enemies, leaving investigators to explore various potential motives.