After security briefing: Entire Negros Oriental put under poll watchlist

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The entire Negros Oriental is placed in the watchlist areas in the forthcoming political exercise, and with the presence of at least three potential private armed groups, two in the north of the province and one in the south.

This was confirmed by Police Regional Office-7 director, Chief Supt, Marcelo Garbo, after the police, the military, the Comelec and teachers conducted on Friday a one-day security briefing and workshop.

Garbo said the workshop, which he initiated to ensure a secured election in Central Visayas provinces, manifested the stakeholders’ unity in telling the candidates they mean business in achieving a peaceful elections.

He said the entire province of Negros Oriental was placed under the election watchlist because of previous incidents as well as current intense political rivalry in almost all the towns and cities here.

This situation was made worse due to the presence of communist rebels in Negros Oriental, unlike Bohol and Cebu, which had been cleared earlier of these insurgents.

Garbo, however, made it clear that that maintenance of peace and order in Negros Oriental is still manageable. Placing the province in the watchlist is just management tools for the police and the military to consider in their security preparations, and for them to be wary and not to be complacent in dealing with the concerns.

In the entire Central Visayas, there are a total of 10 potential private armed groups (PAGS), as confirmed by PRO-7 intelligence head, Supt. Pablo Labra, who also attended the workshop and briefing.

Labra said that, of this number, those three in Cebu, two in Bohol, one in Siquijor and one in Lapu-lapu City, have been delisted already.

Criminal elements and gangs become PAGs when hired by politicians, said Labra, adding that another group is now developing in Tanjay City, but is being monitored by the police.

Negros Oriental Police provincial director, Sr. Supt. Noli Romana, for his part said that, while contingency and tactical security plans were already previously crafted, the workshop was aimed at identifying, discussing and recognizing possible worst case scenarios and challenges that could arise before, during and after the May 13 elections.

He clarified that worst case scenarios being considered in the briefing and workshop were not limited only to those man-made but also during natural calamities, such as typhoons, earthquakes and even power outages.

Romana said he was adopting a “practical solution” in optimizing the tasks and functions of every single policeman deployed for election duty. Each of them shall be carrying a copy of his or her duty job description as guide when a particular scenario arises. (FREEMAN)