CEBU, Philippines — The police today assured there is no need to worry that a barangay each in the southern Cebu town of Minglanilla and in Talisay City is placed in the “yellow category,” or as area of concern, in the coming October 30 barangay and youth elections.
Major Mark Anthony Villanueva, San Fernando Police Station chief, said they have prepared to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in the town.
“Ongoing ang akoang house visit in every barangay para makuha gyud ang status, just like if there is intense political rivalry, or gainit na ba,” he said.
“Personally gyud ko gaadto sa ilaha sa mga barangay captains and also sa barangay tanods. Gina-explain nako ang importance para ma-assure ang peace and order sa election,” he added.
Lt. Col. Randy Caballes, Talisay City police chief, on the other hand, said residents should not worry because the candidates are professional people and that the police have a good grasp of the situation.
“No need to worry tungod kay everything is under control,” he said.
Like Villanueva, he, too, spoke with the barangay captains to help ensure an uneventful political exercise this October.
Barangay South Poblacion, San Fernando and Barangay Linao, Talisay City are in the Election Watchlist Areas (EWAS) for the coming elections.
Villanueva said South Poblacion is in the list because of a 2019 incident where a barangay captain was arrested. He said it was an “isolated case.”
He also said that he meets with the Commission on Elections from time to time to discuss preparations for the elections.
For Linao, Caballes said it is in the EWAS because of the killing of the candidate for San Fernando vice mayor in 2019.
Meanwhile, in Cebu City, Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog said they continually coordinated with other law enforcement agencies as part of preparations for the elections.