Cops, bets reminded: Don’t linger in poll areas

CEBU, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded the policemen that they must stay at least 50 meters away from the polling places.

Provincial Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde explained that some voters get intimidated by mere presence of armed personnel in uniform.

However, the Electoral Boards (EB) may submit a letter to the chief of the police station if there is a need for the police officers to stay closer to the polling places because of various reasons.

This could be due to the presence of a hostile individual who might disrupt the regular flow of the voting process or the polling precinct is part an election hotspot.

At present, the Comelec has yet to publish an Election Watchlist Areas(EWA).

The Commission told reporters that they will finalize the list after the period intended for the filing of Certificates of Candicacy (COC) by the aspirants.

Meanwhile, elected or appointed barangay officials are neither allowed to linger nor campaign in any form for their bets or themselves within the 50-meter radius from the polling precincts unless they wish to vote.

The campaign period is only from May 4 to 12.

Barangay and SK candidates are also not allowed to linger within the 50-meter radius from the polling places. They are only allowed to do so if they will vote.

Gujilde said that an election offense, if proven, may result to imprisonment for one to six years. Election offenses have no bail or probation.

Bail refers to the monetary fine for one's temporary freedom while facing a case. Probation, on the other hand, refers to an alternative punishment to imprisonment like a community service.

On a separate development, a total of 22,886 have filed their COCs in the first five days of the filing. Of this number, 1,693 are candidates for barangay chairman; 12,880 for councilors; 1,342 for SK chairman, and 6,971 for SK members.

The Regional Election Attorney Enerio N. Ocariza Jr. reminds the candidates to fill-up their COC forms correctly, especially that today is the deadline.

“Kompletohon jud dapat nila ang ilang COC ug dapat sakto pag ka fill-up. Since it’s the last day, likayan jud nila ang mga sayop sa pag fill-up labi na kadtong mga tinuyo na pagsuwat ug wrong data kay pwede sila makasuhan ana,” Ocariza said.

Candidates who will fill-up wrong data in their COCs may lead to disqualifications and may even court a criminal Case.

Ocariza also advised the candidates to limit the number of supporters they will bring for a better flow of filing COCs.

“Usa ni ang mga supporters sa atong bantayanan sa mga sumusunod na filing activities aron malikayan ang gubot ug dili hapsay na paagi. Kung mahimo lang na i-limit gyud ang mga pasudlon sa area sa Comelec,” he said.

Ocariza said that it is much better to have a new system for the next election’s filing of COC.

“Mas maayo tingali na maghimo og sistema sunod ang mga election officers na ibahin nila by barangay ang pagdawat sa COC,” he said.

He also suggested to divide the number of barangays to the number of filing days to avoid crowding the Comelec offices.

Meanwhile, Lawyer Veronico Petalcorin, Comelec acting regional director, is urging the public to follow gun ban rules set for the election period.

"Atong giawhag ang katawhan, nga adunay mga pusil nga lihitimo nga ayaw mo pasaya-saya ug ibilin sa na sa atong kapulisan," he said.

On his end, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Joel Doria previously assured legitimate gun-owners that surrendered firearms will be safely kept.

Petalcorin encouraged the public to become responsible citizens rather than just being a "concerned citizen," which means that if there are violations sighted they should be ready to execute an affidavit.

"It is everybody’s concern so let’s participate in this electoral exercises.  Tungod kay nakataya niini ang kaugmaon sa katawhan sa barangay," he said.

Petalcorin was in Camp Sotero Cabahug in Gorordo as one of the attendees for the Joint Peace Security and Safety Conference (JPSCC) for the incoming elections together with other law enforcement agencies.

He said that Comelec officials together with the AFP and PNP has laid down the security framework and now awaiting for the final day of the filing of candidacy to pinpoint election hotspots.

"Naghuwat pa mi until the final day of the filing of candidacy, we will set a meeting and determine hotspots. Sa pagkakaron we are considering places initially recommended by police officers, based on the history of political rivalry, but nothing is final yet," he said. – Mae Clydyl L. Avila, Ivory Pauline Escarro, CNU Comm Intern (FREEMAN)