Cops told not to take sides, voters to vote wisely

CEBU, Philippines – Members of the police force were reminded anew to be non-partisan as the Police Regional Office-7 deployed 500 policemen to secure and maintain the peace and order as millions of voters are expected to go to different polling places to cast their votes for the barangay and SK elections today.

"Dapat ang eleksyon na 'to ay non-partisan. Ang character ninyo dapat walang partido. We are supposed to be neutral. Secondly, be always aware of what our duties are," PRO-7 director, Chief Supt. Ager Ontog reminded his men yesterday.

At least 160 policemen from the Reserve Company were accounted as standby force for possible augmentation and 396 from the Provisional Battalion will act as inspectors for every polling precinct.

"It is very important to us to control our headquarters. This time, hindi dahil mayroong lulusob sa atin, kundi para makontrol natin yu'ng ating mga tauhan na nasa labas na umaasa sa atin for support, umaasa for coordination and umaasa sa atin ng ating direksyon sa kanila. So 'wag nating gawing maliit na bagay ang ating pag-stay dito sa ating head quarters ngayong araw at bukas sapagkat kailangang-kailangan tayo ng ating mga tauhan na nasa field ngayon," Ontog said.

Police officers who will render duty during today's elections were given P100 as meal allowance.

Senior Supt. Ernesto Agas, head of the Regional Operations and Plans Division, said the reserved company is composed of policemen from the police offices of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, PRO-7 and 151 recruits.

Agas also reminded the police yesterday not to receive food, drinks and other things from politicians.

Ontog said the sending of troops for the elections is part of a very long tradition of the military.

"Even during the times of the Greeks and the Romans, during the time of Alexander the Great whenever they do battle with another country or another kingdom the emperor will send out his generals to battle. And we did that yesterday, we send out our troops from Cebu, Negros Oriental and other provinces not for a battle but for a very important task: to safeguard the sanctity of our voting, the right of the people to suffrage. And that is very important," Ontog in his brief speech.

Meanwhile, both Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez yesterday called on the voters to exercise their duty by going to their respective precincts and vote for their barangay and SK leaders.

Garcia is a registered voter of Barangay Ylaya, Dumanjug in the southern part Cebu while Sanchez will cast his vote in Barangay 6, Tuburan in the mid-northern part of the province.

The two officials also urged the citizens to let peace prevail as they exercise their right to suffrage.  

Garcia also said the police must ensure that peace and order is maintained today in the whole province. She also advised candidates to keep their cool and remember that there is another election if they fail to win this time.

Sanchez called on the police and military to focus on the barangays identified as election watchlist areas (EWAS).

At least 22 barangays throughout the province of Cebu was identified as election watchlist areas by officials of the Commission on Elections, police and military.

"They have basis for that, it's their assessment, so my request is to really guard and focus," Sanchez said. He however discounted the possibility that violence will erupt in these areas during the conduct of the elections.

Also, Sanchez reminded all candidates seeking for public office to respect whatever result will come out as it is the decision of the people.

"Let the people decide, respect the decision of the people in the barangay," Sanchez said.

An official of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-7 has also advised the voters not to vote for candidates who are working in far places as they could not work full-time in the barangays once they get elected.

DILG-7 public information officer Willie Jean Cabanag said barangay chiefs should always be in their respective barangays so they could quickly attend to the needs and any problems concerning their constituents.

It is observed that some barangay captains, particularly those in the far flung areas, only stay in their barangays during weekends because they are working in the city and will just go home to their barangays Saturday night or Sunday morning, then also return to the city Monday dawn for work. - Niña G. Sumacot, Rene U. Borromeo and Gregg M. Rubio/WAB (FREEMAN)