Comelec appoints Pipo to oversee Datu Odin Sinsuat under Commission control for May 12 polls

DAVAO CITY (April 8)—- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has designated Commissioner Noli Rafol Pipo as the administrator of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, which has been officially placed under Comelec control for the upcoming May 12 midterm elections.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia confirmed the appointment, stating that Pipo will directly supervise all electoral activities in the municipality to ensure peaceful, orderly, and credible elections.

“The administrator’s power is almost unlimited, reporting directly to the Commission en banc. The mandate is clear—no violence, no intimidation of teachers or voters, and clean elections in the area,” Garcia said in an interview Monday.

Garcia underscored Pipo’s qualifications, citing his previous role as Comelec Regional Director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as key to his selection.

“He is well-versed in the region’s political landscape and security concerns, making him the best fit for the job,” Garcia added.

Comelec is also considering establishing a satellite monitoring office in Camp Awang to closely monitor developments on the ground in Datu Odin Sinsuat.

While the area has been placed under Comelec control, Garcia clarified that no evidence implicates the local government unit (LGU) in the violent incidents that prompted the declaration.

“We are not interfering with the LGU. There is no indication that they caused the disturbances. This declaration gives us the legal authority to act decisively if needed,” he explained.

Garcia also called on law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts in identifying and arresting online trolls spreading disinformation about the elections.

“The trolls are terrible. We’ve asked the NBI and PNP to take action. Some of this fake news—like claims that ballots have already been released—is causing unnecessary panic,” Garcia said.

He clarified that official ballot distribution is scheduled for April 22 and that no ballots have been delivered as of this date.

The Comelec also addressed a separate controversy involving viral photos circulating on social media, falsely claiming that ballots were being stored in a residential property in Davao City.

The photos were later confirmed to show Starlink satellite devices and solar panels, part of the official equipment procured by Comelec through iOne Resources Joint Venture with Ardent Networks, Inc., the authorized service provider for transmission services.

The equipment was temporarily staged in Barangay Buhangin, Davao City, and is scheduled to be deployed to voting and canvassing centers across the Davao Region starting April 15.