Benhur, two others get security from Comelec

The Commission on Elections central office has approved the request of Cebu provincial election supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano to provide police security to a congressman and two town officials.

Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, chairman of the committee on firearms and security, granted police escorts to Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon and to San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya and Vice Mayor Antonio Canoy.

The police escorts will come from the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Over the weekend, Castillano sought security details from Comelec acting chairman Resurreccion Borra for Salimbangon, Reluya and Canoy “due to verified threats to their lives.”

Castillano said his office immediately received a fax copy of the reply to his request.

The police escorts from the CPPO are PO1 Marlon Villarin for Salimbangon, PO1 Erwin Rebada for Reluya and PO1 Oliver Ortega for Canoy.

Castillano, however, clarified that the police security for the three does not contravene the Philippine National Police memorandum prohibiting police escorts for public officials.

Castillano said the approval of his request to have the three public officials detailed with police escorts superseded the PNP memorandum.

He added that Comelec may approve similar request from other officials if the threats to their lives are verified. — Gerome R. Dalipe/LPM