Negros Or. ready for brgy polls

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Over 11,000  candidates  are  running  for  4,986  posts in 554 barangays  in Negros Oriental, and  the  Provincial Police Office said it is 100 ready to secure the elections on Monday.

Provincial police officer-in-charge Alet Virtucio said that the PNP in the province is 100 percent ready for the elections on Monday.

NOrPPO officer-in-charge Supt. Alet Virtucio said at least 28 barangays in the province are being closely monitored by law enforcement agencies for being tagged as election watchlist areas (EWAs), due to the presence of communist rebels and intense political rivalry.

Seventeen of these are in Guihulngan City, six in Sta. Catalina town, three in Siaton, one in Valencia and another in Tanjay City.

Virtucio said 1,270 policemen are being deployed for election duty around the province, while Philippine Army soldiers will augment security at the polling places.

Virtucio also said the NOrPPO is now on full alert once deployment starting yesterday, with the conduct of checkpoints by police stations in every part of the province. —(FREEMAN)