Places under EWAS to be given ‘special treatment’
Apparently, not all towns and cities will be treated equal this coming May 10, 2010 elections.
Some will be afforded with augmentation forces, intensified police visibility, and enhanced checkpoint operations, among others.
But before the public could raise eyebrows on this plan, PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas said that there actions should not be misconstrued as they are giving special privileges to few towns.
Instead, he claimed that the said move is part of the security measures to be accorded by Police Regional Office (PRO) VI to towns and cities recently placed under the election watchlist of areas (EWAS).
For Cuevas, the “special treatment” is to ensure the holding of honest, orderly, and peaceful elections on towns and cities where there are the presence of NPA rebels, violence in the last two elections, political rivalry, and presence of private army.
“We’d rather be prepared than sorry,” he added.
Cuevas pointed out that there is nothing wrong in doing tightened proactive measures if it means to deter any violence from happening.
PRO6 earlier identified 46 towns and cities in the watchlist.
The parameters in determining these areas are the active presence of guerilla front, election-related violent incidents in the past two elections, intense partisan political rivalry, and possible employment of partisan armed groups.
Iloilo province topped the list with 17 areas considered as EWAS.
It is followed by Negros Occidental with 10; Antique with 9, Capiz with 4, Aklan with 3, Guimaras with 2 and Iloilo City.
Iloilo City was the last to be included in the list after the grenade explosion at the vicinity of Mayor Jerry Treñas’ residence.
Meanwhile, Cuevas said that the deployment of the maneuver companies of the 6th Regional Public Safety Management Battalion will be prioritized to these areas.
The region’s top cop, however, reiterated that peace and order is not the sole concern of the police, hence everyone is enjoined to be vigilant of their surroundings.
“I hope our populace would be one with us in supporting our campaign for an honest, orderly, and peaceful election,” Cuevas appealed.
