BACOLOD CITY , Philippines — The province of Negros Oriental has a new police chief and an additional 100 policemen to secure the holding of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Col. Ronan Claravall assumed the post as acting Negros Occidental police director yesterday, replacing Col. Alex Recinto.
Aside from Claravall, more than 100 personnel of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 were deployed in the province to maintain peace and order, which was recently disturbed by the assassination of governor Roel Degamo.
Claravall, former head of the Central Visayas regional mobile force battalion, is the third to be designated Negros Oriental police chief following the murder of Degamo in March.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos visited Negros Oriental on Saturday to check the peace and order situation.
During his visit at the police headquarters in Sibulan town, Abalos urged local officials and residents to “move on” as the government is now in full control of the situation.
He said criminal charges have been filed against several suspects in the Degamo murder.
In a statement, the Central Visayas police said the deployment of additional police officers in Negros Oriental would ensure a peaceful and orderly barangay and SK elections in October.
Central Visayas police director Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin gave assurance that the number of police officers in the region is sufficient for augmentation deployment in places identified as “election areas of concern.”