2 thousand cops to be deployed in election hotspots

CEBU, Philippines — At least 2,000 personnel will be deployed to the different polling places while enough number of reinforcement and monitoring staff will be left in stations to ensure peace and order during the elections according to the director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-7.

Chief Superintendent Robert Quenery told reporters yesterday that there will be a simultaneous send-off ceremony on Friday in different police units whose personnel will be part of the augmentation force in barangays identified as hotspots.

“Nasa 2,000 personnel ang naka-deploy for voting centers. Ang sinisiguro muna ay yung voting centers if may sobra na strength ang isang unit  i-deploy sa sila sa Election Watchlist Areas (EWAs). From cities na relatively peaceful, we take some and add to problematic areas,” Quenery said.

At least six barangays in Tuburan town are classified as EWAs as approved by the government agencies in the Joint Peace Security Coordinating Conference held in the Provincial Government last Tuesday.

These are barangays Putat, Carmelo, Mag-atubang, Sumon, Monte Alegre and Ga-ang.  These areas belong to Category I or areas that have confirmed presence of private armed groups, intense political rivalry and a history of election related violence.

Quenery assured that PRO-7 is prepared for any eventualities during the barangay and Sangguniang Bayan elections.

“Handa na tayo. Lagi naman tayong handa. We are just polishing the preparations,“ Quenery said.

He said that so far, in a recent election related conference he attended in Manila, only three regions, including Central Visayas, have not reported any election related violence.

“Of the whole country, tatlo ang walang election related violent incident. At least three pa lang sa whole country. We hope and pray that it will continue until the elections are finished,” he said.

Quenery also pointed out that despite the recent change in command of two provincial directors in Cebu and Negros Oriental, the election preparations will not be affected as units already have a template to follow.  — MBG (FREEMAN)