Police all set for Monday's elections

CEBU, Philippines - The whole personnel and operations of the Cebu City Police Office and the entire police force in Central Visayas are now on full red alert status in preparation for the national and local elections on Monday.

CCPO director, Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, held a final briefing with his men yesterday to remind them always of their duties to ensure an honest, peaceful and orderly election.

Comendador said that 878 of his men, which were already fully alerted since Wednesday, will be deployed on Sunday.

In Cebu City alone, being the main hub with 516,227 registered voters, the police are all ready prepared to guard 73 polling centers set up in most of the 80 barangays in the city.

He said that 268 policemen will be tasked to secure the polling centers, 37 will secure the PCOS machines and ballot boxes, and 42 policemen will serve as reserved.

Comendador said there may be other problems that may crop up during the election day without being anticipated, but he said they are now ready for them.

“If you ask us right now if we are ready, yes, we are ready,” Comendador told reporters yesterday.

He pointed out that there is no partisan armed group or areas in the city that are placed under the Commission on Elections watchlist.

The liquor ban will be implemented Sunday midnight until Monday midnight, the police official added.

Deployment of police officers started since the delivery of the PCOS machines, ballot boxes, and other election paraphernalia, until their distribution to the different polling centers and up to their testing and sealing today.

During the rank inspection yesterday, Comendador emphasized to his men not to be in partisan with any politicians.

“They say neutral persons are the devil’s allies. It is a very difficult job for us policemen because we have to remain neutral. We must make sure that we are not being recruited by the devils,” Comendador advised his men.

Meanwhile, the entire police force in the region is also now on full red alert status for the coming election and it will be lifted the days after when the region is already ensured that the region is already secured and peaceful.

Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, director of Police Regional Office (PRO-7) said that last May 5, they started the full red alert status and policemen are on standby for any worst scenario on the day of the elections and even after. — Niña G. Sumacot and Gabriel C. Bonjoc/WAB (THE FREEMAN)