Speaker Prospero Nograles Thursday criticized the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for its alleged laxity in the implementation of the election gun ban, saying the poll body is negligent in carrying out its constitutional mandate of ensuring a clean and honest elections this May.

He claimed that in Davao City alone, local and barangay officials and even motorcycle-riding goons are brandishing firearms in full public view, while New People's Army (NPA) insurgents roam around in rural barangays terrorizing residents and campaign volunteers of candidates who refuse to give them protection money, but police and military personnel who were deputized by the Comelec to enforce the gun ban seems to be turning blind eye.

Nograles lamented that the Comelec's continued refusal to place Davao City under full Comelec control has already cost the lives of two campaign volunteers of Bantay party-list group headed by retired Major General Jovito Palparan, a known anti-communist advocate and staunch critic of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

The body of Juliana Noquera, 51, of Barangay Dominga, Calinan, was allegedly recovered on a beach in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte on Saturday, while that of Ronald Miranda, 49, of Landmark village in Buhangin District here, was found in Sta. Maria, Davao del Sur on the same day.

Both were decomposing and bore stab wounds. Police authorities said the two were allegedly campaigning for Bantay, an anti-communist group founded by Palparan, in Calinan on March 24 when they were taken along the national highway.

Palparan has repeatedly criticized Duterte for alleged acts of plunder and for using city hall funds to protect and provide financial and logistical support for communist insurgents operating in Davao City and nearby provinces led by Leoncio Pitao, aka Kumander Parago.

Duterte retaliated by declaring Palparan and Anad Party-list Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr. persona non grata in Davao City.