350 soldiers to be deployed to Nueva Ecija

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will request for some 350 military personnel to be deployed to Nueva Ecija to augment the local police force in securing the province from serious armed threats in connection with the May 14 elections.

PNP chief Oscar Calderon directed Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Northern Luzon Command for the deployment of 350 soldiers in the third district of Nueva Ecija.

Calderon said the deployment of more soldiers in the province is in compliance with the resolution of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to adopt preemptive measures to prevent the occurrence of political violence related to the May 14 elections.

The poll body’s decision was based on the recommendation of lawyer Emmanuel Igancio, Director III, the concurrent Nueva Ecija provincial election supervisor, who was given full authority to transfer or relieve officers and members of the PNP in Nueva Ecija.

Under Comelec regulations, the PNP can ask for assistance from the AFP in cases of serious security concerns and prevailing election disturbances.

Nueva Ecija’s provincial police director Senior Superintendent Allen Bantolo had opposed the move to place the province under Comelec control because he said the "areas of concern" in the province had been dramatically reduced from 20 in 2001, to 11 in 2004 and only seven for this year’s election.

Bantolo, who has no choice but to follow Comelec’s order, later admitted that the deployment of more military troops in Nueva Ecija to complement local PNP troops in areas of concerns was meant to prevent extortion and coercion of candidates and voters by communist rebels.

Meanwhile, officials of the Western Mindanao Police Region (Region 9) director Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal said yesterday they might need the assistance of the military in areas classified as "immediate concern" to prevent possible disturbance of warring political groups in the coming polls.

Caringal said he is set to have a security conference with AFP Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo to discuss possible military assistance in island barangays and other areas of concerns in the region.