BSKE: Cops to serve as poll workers

MANILA, Philippines — Police will serve as poll workers in areas to be classified as hot spots during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel would be deployed for poll duties as the need arises.

Garcia was reacting to a resolution passed by the Maguindanao del Sur Peace and Order Council on Tuesday asking the Comelec and PNP to allow policemen to serve as poll inspectors in areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that would be declared as election areas of concern.

The resolution said police personnel from Soccsksargen instead of teachers should serve as members of the board of election inspectors.

“Even without a request, we will utilize PNP personnel,” Garcia said.

At the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday, Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said Libon town in Albay and Malabang, Lanao del Sur are among those being considered to be placed under “red” areas of concern.

Barangay captain Alex Repato of San Jose in Libon was shot dead shortly after filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Aug. 28.

On Sept. 1, a shooting incident allegedly to stop the filing of COCs was reported in Malabang.

“Depending on the recommendation of the committee on the ban on firearms and security concerns, we may place these areas under Comelec control or red category,” Laudiangco said.

In Negros Occidental, the PNP is monitoring armed groups, provincial police director Col. Leo Pamittan said.

The Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center had earlier recommended that 55 barangays in the province be categorized as election areas of concern, citing sightings of New People’s Army rebels.

Pamittan maintained that there are no more active private armed groups in the province. He gave assurance that there are enough forces to secure the polls.

Pamittan said the number of election hot spots may also decrease as validation is ongoing.

Kagawad bet slain

Meanwhile, in Cotabato, a candidate for barangay kagawad was shot dead in Pikit on Wednesday.

Rhoyden Flores died from a gunshot to the head, according to Pikit police chief Maj. Arvin John Cambang.

Flores, who was running for barangay councilman in Takepan, was in front of a stall selling vegetables by the roadside when he was shot.

On the killing of reelectionist village chief Erasmo Hernandez of Barangay Poblacion 10 in Taal, Batangas, police filed murder and obstruction of justice charges against two alleged accomplices of the accused killers. – John Unson, Arnell Ozaeta