By Nanette Guadalquiver/Philippine News Agency
BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) deployed a total of 3,251 personnel for the May 13 elections during the send-off ceremony held at the Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in this city on Monday.
Brig. Gen. Jesus Cambay Jr., deputy regional director for administration of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 (Western Visayas), who was the guest of honor, reminded the troops rendering election duties to always follow the police operational procedures and the Commission on Election (Comelec) guidelines.
“Always pray for the success of this major event,” he said.
Cambay also underscored the five objectives of the PRO-6, which are no harassment to stations, no ambush on troops, no liquidations, no acts of terrorism, and no election-related violent incidents.
The contingent included 1,855 policemen who will be assigned to the voting centers — 1,477 from the provincial police units as well as 122 from the Regional Police Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) and 166 from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Also deployed were 396 members of the Negros Occidental Police Mobile Force Company and 1,000 troops from the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, all designated as quick response force.
The resources of the government forces comprised of 57 vehicles; 41 motorcycles; 2,874 long and short firearms; and 328 radio communications equipment.
Col. Romeo Baleros, police provincial director, said the forces of the provincial police are now ready to secure the national and local elections.
Baleros, in his message during the send-off, urged the troops to remain apolitical and neutral in rendering election duties.
In Negros Occidental, the municipality of Moises Padilla has been placed under the Commission on Elections (Comelec) control on Monday after it was initially listed under Category Red, being an “area of grave concern”.
Himamaylan City is also under Category Red, with a history of election-related incidents in the past two elections and intense political rivalry, and there is serious armed threat posed by the New People’s Army (NPA) and other lawless elements.
Those under Category Orange, or “areas of immediate concern”, where there is serious armed threat posed by the NPA and other lawless elements, are Kabankalan City and the towns of Toboso, Isabela, and Hinobaan.
Category Yellow are “areas of concern,” which means that these have a history of election-related incidents in the last two elections and intense political rivalry, and these had been previously declared under Comelec control.
These included are the municipalities of Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, E.B. Magalona, Hinigaran, La Castellana, Binalbagan, Ilog, Candoni, Cauayan and the cities of Escalante, Silay, Sipalay, and San Carlos.
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