CEBU, Philippines - With the presence of goons reportedly hired by both political parties struggling for control of Tuburan, the town is a potential time bomb, said Police Regional Office-7 director Marcelo Garbo Jr.
“Tuburan is a potential time bomb. May reported goons from both political parties,†Garbo said in a press briefing recently.
Because of this, Garbo said massive checkpoints will be conducted in Tuburan for the arrest of these hired goons whose identities they are still validating.
According to the town’s police chief, Senior Insp. Florendo Fajardo, Tuburan is top 5 in the Election Watchlist of Areas in Cebu Province.
Fajardo said political rivalry in his jurisdiction is so intense that violence is very likely to occur, particularly during the elections on Monday.
He said checkpoints are conducted in his jurisdiction 24/7 particularly in hinterland barangays.
“Manageable ra man ang situation diri, pero di g’yud kakumpiyansaan,†said Fajardo.
He said the camps of mayoralty bets Rosemarie Suezo of the One Cebu Party and Aljun Diamante of the Liberal Party refused to sign a peace covenant, which would supposedly express their willingness to cooperate for an orderly, peaceful and fair conduct of elections by upholding Comelec guidelines.
Today, Fajardo said they will assign over 40 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines as additional augmentation. Over 20 personnel from the Regional Public Safety Battalion have augmented their force since March, he said.
Aside from Tuburan, PRO-7 will also focus its deployment of troops in the other municipalities in the south of Cebu, particularly in Malabuyoc, Badian, Alegria, Bogo City, and Daanbantayan, where political rivalry is also intense. (FREEMAN)