Poll security measures in place

CEBU, Philippines - With the deployment of 5,607 policemen in the entire Region 7 and other preparations in place, it’s all systems go for the security measures for the elections.

This as Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, director of the Police Regional Office-7, personally inspected some areas in the region, the last of which was Negros Province yesterday.

“Properly deployed na ang mga pulis sa Region 7 for the election on Monday,” said Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, lead coordinator of the Election Media Center on behalf of Nerez in yesterday’s final joint conference by the PNP, AFP and the Commission on Elections being the supervisory unit.

Police Action Centers are now also being set up in every police center where voters and poll officers can seek police assistance in case of any eventualities.

Meanwhile, the PRO-7 is now also closely monitoring Larena in the province of Siquijor after being recently included in the Region 7’s election watchlist of areas (EWAs).

Four days before the election scheduled tomorrow, intelligence operatives in the Siquijor police reported the presence of armed men in Larena, although they are still verifying this report.

For security purposes, they just included Larena in their EWA.

As earlier reported, Bogo City and the towns of Carmen, Cordova, Tabuelan, Sta. Fe and San Francisco in Camotes Island are being also included in the Comelec’s EWA under Category 1 which means that intense political rivalry and previous election-related violence occurred in the said areas.

Canlaon, Tanjay and Bayawan cities and Himalalod, Tayasan, Bacong and Basay of Negros Oriental are also presently under the same category.

In Bohol, only the city of Tagbilaran and the town of Trinidad were placed under Category 1. (FREEMAN NEWS)