Barangay Bingay, Borbon residents ask Comelec for military security

Residents of barangay Bingay in Borbon town are asking for military assistance because of threats of insurgency and cheating during the barangay ang Sangguniang Kabataan elections next week.

The residents, in a letter to Commission on Elections regional director Ray Rene Buac, expressed concern over the possible eruption of election-related violence during the conduct of the polls on Monday and requested for the deployment of military personnel in the elementary school there, which has five precincts.

“We are benevolently requesting and appealing that you provide us with five army personnel to guard each polling precinct,” the residents said in their open letter.

The residents, however, specified that they would prefer the services of the military rather than the police, claiming that the services and loyalty of the police are “directly controlled by the mayor.”

They said they prefer the non-partisan soldiers from the 78th Infantry Battalion, which is based in northern Cebu, to secure their barangay.

Barangay Bingay residents said they want military security because they want to ensure clean and honest elections.  They said the presence of the military will encourage candidates to follow Comelec rules. The military will also protect residents who have to walk two kilometers from their houses to the polling places.

The residents said that aside from possible clashes among candidates, they are also concerned about the presence of some members of the New People’s Army in their area.

Last Monday, the Philippine Army has confirmed reports that several candidates for the Monday elections are getting support from insurgents. – Gerome M. Dalipe