CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Police Office has included the town of Pinamungajan in the Commission on Elections Watchlist of Areas (EWAS) for Cebu Province.
CPPO Director Patrocinio Comendador said the town is added to the list because of the intense political rivalry between suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia of One Cebu Party and Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha of the Liberal Party who are running against each other for third district’s congressional seat.
Other towns placed under Comelec watch list are Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Compostela, Consolacion, San Fernando, Barili, Dumanjug, Ronda, Ginatilan, Sogod. Also, the cities of Toledo, Bogo, and Danao.
Comendador said that areas are included in the watchlist because of intense political rivalries and armed violence.
Comendador said part of their security plan is more police visibility, transport security, polling place security, pro-action security, concern teams, canvassing security, and availability of reserved personnel.
Comendador has provided more policemen in northern Cebu as most political violence happened in the north as compared in southern Cebu.
Regional Election Director Atty. Temie Lambino said there is no area in the entire region placed under Comelec control.
“We only have EWAS and no recommendation to put any area under Comelec control in the region,†Lambino said.
He explained that an area is put only under Comelec control if there is serious armed threat.
Lambino assured that the Comelec, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP are ready in securing the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and those who will be involved in the elections and canvassing.
“We are just waiting for the date and of the official ballots and if the election will be conducted now, I would say we could perform the election successfully,†Lambino said. — (FREEMAN)