The Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) is set to propose that the Municipality of Tobias Fornier be categorized as an area of concern due to escalating political rivalry. This recommendation will be presented to the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC), as stated by APPO Information Officer Lt. Col. Willy Diel during a recent interview. The focus of this concern is the fierce competition between incumbent Mayor Ernesto Tajanlangit III and Vice Mayor Jose Maria Fornier, who are both vying for the mayoral position in the upcoming National and Local Elections on May 12, 2025.
The tension between the two candidates reportedly escalated when Mayor Tajanlangit allegedly assaulted Vice Mayor Fornier over a dispute concerning the distribution of food packs to residents affected by El Niño on April 29, 2024. Despite this, Diel confirmed that no Private Armed Groups (PAGs) have been detected in the area, which could potentially disrupt the elections.
To ensure a peaceful and fair electoral process, the police, in collaboration with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), plan to intensify security measures. This includes a crackdown on loose firearms and increased checkpoints from January 12 to June 11, 2025. These efforts aim to mitigate election-related violence and maintain public safety.
In a related development, Comelec Acting Assistant Regional Director and Antique Provincial Election Supervisor Wil Arceño mentioned an upcoming PJSCC meeting scheduled for January 13. This meeting will address the classification of areas within the province and review overall election preparations. Arceño emphasized that the PJSCC will have the final say on whether Tobias Fornier will officially be designated as an area of concern.