Police readies peace pact among local poll bets
Roxas City -- A signing of agreement among local candidates is being pushed by the Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO) on April 17 at the Provincial Capitol here to ensure an honest, orderly and peaceful elections on May 14 this year.
"We will invite all the local candidates for elective positions to sign the covenant," said Capiz Police Director Senior Supt. Roberto Villanueva over a radio interview.
The activity will also be witnessed by the religious sectors and media practitioners, among others.
The province's Tapaz and Pilar towns are in the watchlist of the police authorities because of their history of intense political rivalry and election-related offenses, respectively.
In the national level, at least 46 cases of election related violence have been recorded by the police since the start of election period on January 14 based on the latest Philippine National Police (PNP) report submitted to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
The report also showed that there are 1, 479 individuals arrested for gun ban violations. Specificifally, the report showed the police had so far confiscated 1,217 firearms, 57 explosive devices, and 255 deadly weapons.
Comelec Commissioner Resurreccion Borra said during a recent press briefing that said commissioners and other field officers will conduct area visits starting April 10 to determine if there are still more towns and provinces that should be placed under its control.
The Comelec's move came after the killing of Kalinga gubernatorial candidate Rommel Diasen and Petronilo Amorin Jr, the poll body's officer in Palawan province.
"The instruction of the en banc is for [field] personnel [of the Comelec] to submit a peace and order situation report so as to guide the Commissioner in charge of the regions," Borra said.
Military troops were also deployed in the province of Antique to augment police forces in the area, as requested by the provincial election supervisor, the Commissioner added.
(PIA/A.Lumaque)