MANILA, April 7 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has assigned Commissioner Noli Rafol Pipo as the administrator of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, which has been placed under its control for the May 12 midterm polls.

Pipo would oversee all poll-related activities in the area, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview Monday.

"The administrator's power is almost unlimited, reporting directly to the Commission en banc. Just make sure that there is no violence, teachers and voters are not intimidated, and that there is a proper election in that area," he said in an interview.

"This is a warning to everyone, do not test the power of Comelec and our desire to organize the country's Election," the poll body ch...