PNP, Comelec set preparations for honest, orderly and peaceful elections
Bacolod City--As the May 14 national and local election fever is rising, the Philippine National Police with the Commission on Elections is making all the preparations for an honest, orderly and peaceful election.
"I am instructing the PNP to map out in detail all potential election hot spots, disarm any private armies and help the COMELEC enforce clean, honest and peaceful polls. The will of the people must be upheld because the strength of our democratic system must go hand in hand with the strength of our free enterprise system," he said.
"We are lifting our economy to the standards of the 21st century and we should modernize our political institutions in the same vein. All Filipinos have stake in this goal; and let us cut the partisan strife and noise and join hands to fix up the political system just as we fixed up the economy," he added.
A statement made by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the start of PNP-COMELEC, which will tackle the preparations, made for the elections that should avoid fears and election-related crimes.
The PNP anticipates that kidnapping incidents may increase in the coming months and it is currently beefing-up appropriate community intelligence networks and security measures to prevent kidnapping. While the Comelec is working closely work with non-government organizations and the private sector to ensure an honest, orderly and peaceful May elections.
Negros Occidental COMELEC supervisor Jessie Suarez will lead the signing of peace-covenant with the candidates of the political districts in Negros Occidental at the start of the campaign period on March. The peace-covenant is part of the pre-emptive actions recommended by Provincial Police Director Rosendo Franco for a peaceful and orderly election in the province.
Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office has identified 23 of the 12 cities and 19 municipalities in the province as "areas of concern" this election period. NOPPO chief Franco clarified however that these areas are not "areas of immediate concern" which means that there in no need to field additional police forces to maintain peace and order.
The government also urges the public to be vigilant and do their share for an honest and credible election by shunning agents of election fraud while enjoining all candidates to follow the rules and regulations set by the Commission on Elections.
(PIA/EAD)