PNP tightens watch on 7,000 poll hotspots

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  —  Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde yesterday directed all police forces across the country to be on guard in 7,000 identified hotspot areas in the coming barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) elections.

Albayalde issued the order during a brief visit at the Police Regional Office 9 headquarters here on his way to Sulu to assess police preparations for Monday’s elections.

Albayalde was briefed by regional police director Chief Supt. Billy Beltran on preparations in the region.

Beltran said they will be deploying more than 8,200 policemen in the Zamboanga peninsula and Isabela City in Basilan.

Albayalde said he believed there is not a single hotspot in Zamboanga, as it is not included in the more than 7,000 election hotspots recorded by the PNP all over the country.

Albayalde reminded policemen that some of the places have a history of violent incidents, necessitating the need to intensify their monitoring and target hardening measures.

Albayalde also ordered the continuation of “Oplan Sita” road checkpoint operations and the strict implementation of the gun ban during the election period.

At the same time, Albayalde announced at least 1,900 policemen nationwide have been temporarily relieved and reassigned to other areas because of their relation to candidates running in their areas.

The measure was intended to prevent possible influence or support of policemen to the candidates who are their relatives.

“But this does not mean that these policemen are meddling, but just to avoid the possible influence on their place or to support their relatives, because it is strongly prohibited for us to support any candidate even if it is your family or spouse because we are apolitical and should remain apolitical,” Albayalde said. 

He warned that those proven to be influencing or supporting candidates would be sanctioned or demoted.

He said they have been receiving complaints and information from different regions of policemen getting involved in the elections.

Albayalde said even the police chiefs who will be found to have relatives running in the election in their area will be temporarily relieved or reassigned to other areas.

Category red

The PNP will deploy at least 163,000 policemen to secure the elections on Monday.

As of yesterday, a total of 1,074 people were arrested for violating the nationwide election gun ban.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Martin Diño said the number of barangays under the list of election hotspots is at 7,915.

Diño said he is expecting the hotspots will double in number as the campaign period intensifies in the next days.

“Reports of harassment and vote buying are increasing,” he said.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said 619 barangays are in the red category, which means threats from criminal groups and intense political rivalries are prevalent.

Of the number, 419 are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), followed by Bicol with 60 and Soccskargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato City, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) region with 42.

Bulalacao stressed a maximum deployment of police and security personnel is necessary in these areas.

“We are also ready to deploy police personnel who are prepared to act as election tellers,” he said.

Bulalacao said 24 people have been killed in 20 violent incidents believed to be related to the elections.

Thirteen of them were elected government officials. The other fatalities were six civilians, three candidates, one former government official and an appointed government official.

Six people were also injured in these incidents, Bulalacao added.

Meanwhile, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino asked the PNP to submit its list of barangay officials involved in illegal drugs.

Aquino said the 207 officials listed in the barangay drug list should surrender to authorities to clear their name.

Aquino said he made the suggestion to enforce Oplan Tokhang on the named barangay officials.

The PDEA chief said their surrender would also give the barangay officials opportunity to air their side and defend themselves from accusations that they are involved in illegal drugs. 

DILG officer in charge Eduardo Año said several barangay officials included in PDEA’s narco list are candidates in the elections.

Año said based on their cross-checking, around five percent of the officials in the list made public by the PDEA are running in the barangay polls.

The PDEA list contained 207 names, which means at least 10 are seeking reelection. Some of the other barangay officials can no longer run after holding office for three consecutive terms.

Diño revealed some of the candidates mentioned in the list have withdrawn their candidacy.

Political influence

Año, on the other hand, warned policemen against participating in partisan politics in the barangay and SK elections.

Año said police officers should focus on ensuring that elections will be peaceful and orderly.

He also called on local chief executives to refrain from meddling in the elections.

Año said they have received reports that some mayors are trying to reduce the number of candidates to form just one slate.

“We have received reports and sent out show cause (orders) for these mayors to explain,” Año said over GMA-7.

Año did not give a figure on the number of local chief executives subject of their investigation. He warned the local officials to stop their activities or face administrative charges.

“We are gathering evidence because this is a ground for an administrative case at a minimum,” Año said.

Diño added some governors, mayors and congressmen are harassing and forcing candidates to withdraw in favor of their allies.

“They want to ensure their victory in the 2019 elections,” he said.

Año also directed the PNP to take proactive measures to prevent vote buying following reports that such incidents have been occurring in parts of the country.

Diño added cases of vote buying and violence have intensified with candidates in barangay posts shelling out at least P2,500 for each voter.

According to Diño, vote buying had been reported in Abra, Bulacan and Rizal and some areas in Metro Manila.

“They will face perpetual disqualification if proven they are involved in vote buying,” he warned.

Even the communist rebels have warned local officials from influencing the outcome of the barangay elections.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) warned candidates against carrying firearms and being accompanied by policemen or soldiers in campaigning in rebel-influenced villages.

The CPP also warned against vote buying.

Education Undersecretary Alain del Pascua gave assurance that public school teachers and other personnel of the department are all set for the conduct of elections on Monday.

Del Pascua assured the public that the thousands of educators who will serve in the upcoming polls are ready to fulfill their responsibilities as election officials and canvassers.

“We are ready for the upcoming elections on May 14… More than 300 DepEd personnel and officials will give support to our teachers who will serve in the local elections, through our Election Task Force (ETF) and Monitoring Center,” Del Pascua said.   –  with Jess Diaz, Mayen Jaymalin, Ben Serrano, Jose Rodel Clapano, Romina Cabrera, Emmanuel Tupas