BACOLOD CITY , Philippines — The entire police force of Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental has been relieved due to the spate of election-related incidents.
Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson for the Western Visayas police, said all members of the police force, including the officer-in-charge, will be replaced today.
Malong said more troopers from the police mobile group would be dispatched in the area to conduct border control operations and related functions.
She said the Army would conduct anti-insurgency operations in the area.
Two incumbent councilors and a former head of the Liga ng Barangay were among those killed in the spate of violence that erupted a few days before the May 13 elections.
Among the victims were Councilor Michael Garcia and his uncle, Mark Garcia, former head of the Liga ng Barangay.
The Garcias were nephew and brother, respectively, of Vice Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, who is running for mayor in the coming elections.
The Regional Joint Security Control Center is expecting the Commission on Elections to issue today a resolution placing the town under Comelec control.
Lt. Col. Adrian Acollador was designated officer-in-charge of the Moises Padilla police station effective today.
Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, chief of the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, said 150 Army personnel and three armed personnel carriers have been deployed in the area to help the police maintain orderly and peaceful elections.
Arevalo said he was direc-ted by Comelec Commissioner Al Parreno to prepare for the placing of Moises Padilla under Comelec control.
Arevalo expects the Philippine National Police to match the number of additional Army personnel deployed in the town, so they could fully secure the area and the neighboring municipalities.