Comelec wants offices secured on COC filing days

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections is asking the Cebu Provincial Police Office to assign police personnel in all election offices in the cities and municipalities of Cebu during the filing of the certificates of candidacy next week.

Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said the augmentation force is to prevent any untoward incidents during the filing of COCs.

Castillano said that nobody knows what will happen when rival candidates meet at the Comelec to file their COCs at the same time.

He cited an incident when mayoralty candidate was shot dead in front of his office at the Capitol compound in 2007.

Castillano said that they are now meeting with the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center composed of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in preparation for the 2013 elections.

He said that Comelec will take over responsibility as the election period starts on January 13, 2013.

Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo said they will provide the necessary security personnel.

He however said that the planning will be left to the concerned police commanders in the respective municipalities and component cities.

“We have different level like city level and provincial level, city directors and provincial directors will take charge of the security measures,” Garbo told The FREEMAN.

The PRO-7 has identified the cities of Bogo and Danao as potential hotpots in the coming elections because of past election related incidents.

Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) director Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador also expressed readiness to provide enough security at the Comelec offices.

The filing of COCs is set on October 1 to 5 from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon.

Castillano said that it was resolved by their central office not to extend the filing up to 12 midnight that has been practiced in the past elections for reason that the continuing voter’s registration shall resume the next day.

He said that the continuing voter’s registration will be suspended during the filing of COCs next week. It will resume immediately after the filing until the end of October. (FREEMAN)