DAVAO CITY – Police units around the Davao Region heightened security measures for the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy (CoC) starting Thursday, October 17.
Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, Police Regional Office (PRO)-11 director, said the added security measures include the deployment of more police personnel to the different Commission on Election (Comelec) offices in the region.
Morales also ordered chiefs of police to strengthen checkpoints and conduct “target hardening” on all vital installations during the five-day filing of the CoCs.
“All necessary security forces and security measures will be deployed and installed during the Filing of Certificate of Candidacy to pre-empt and prevent mob and untoward incidents during this period,” said Morales, as he called on the candidates and supporters to be calm and vigilant so as not to hamper the electoral process.
The PRO-11 director urged the public to immediately report suspicious persons, even the unlawful acts of Comelec personnel, police and security forces.
During the AFP-PNP press corps briefing on Wednesday here, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Maria Theresita Gaspan said there will be full deployment of police personnel with more focus on areas where the candidates and supporters for the filing of CoC.
“There will be maximum police visibility,” Gaspan told reporters. “The military forces are also ready to provide security in the outskirt areas.”
Capt Jerry Lamosao, spokesperson of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the troops will be visible in the communities especially those that were previously put on the Election Watch-list Areas (EWAS). (Lilian C Mellejor/PNA)
