PNP: We’re ready for our poll duties
As far as Police Regional Office (PRO) VI, it’s all systems go for today’s historic event, the first-ever automated synchronized elections in the country.
PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas said that deployment of personnel were already in place in practically all over Western Visayas.
“We are prepared. In fact, our policemen are already in areas where they are supposed to be,” he added.
With the dearth of police personnel, Cuevas said that they tried to make up with what they have.
From the ideal two policemen per voting center, PRO-6 assigned one personnel for every voting center.
Further, members of the 6th Regional Public Safety Management Unit were already assigned at the clustered areas.
While each area is given due attention, the PRO-6 hierarchy admitted that they are keeping tight watch on the towns of Estancia, San Dionisio, and Carles, Passi City in Iloilo province; Iloilo City; Pulupandan, Sipalay, Escalante, and Himamaylan in Negros Occidental.
In the towns of Estancia, San Dionisio, and Carles, additional policemen augmented the local PNP force after incidents that contributed to the intense political rivalry in the area.
In Passi City, Cuevas said that there is a roving Provincial Public Safety Management unit following reports of presence of armed elements in the area.
On the other hand, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) deployed special reactions units in town center reports to address possible violence.
Meanwhile, Cuevas said that they have been taking seriously the threats of communist terrorists who might disrupt the electoral process.
“In fact, we have been preparing for that. The AFP’s primary purpose would be thwart possible attack of the enemies. On the PNP, we are more of giving protection on voting centers,” he said adding that far-flung areas were clustered. AFP, with the PNP, will conduct operations in the said areas.
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) records that there are 19,221 BEIs who will serve in 6,407 clustered precincts all over Western Visayas for 3,950,634 voters.
Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, registered the highest number of voters at 1,556,448.
It is followed by the city and province of Iloilo at 1,262,639; Capiz with 431,240; Aklan with 316,886; Antique with 289,368; and Guimaras with 94,053.
