Church to help in May polls

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has tapped the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) to help monitor the conduct of general elections on May 10.

According to Director Enrique Galang, PNP chief for Directorial Staff, PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has also ordered all regional and provincial police commanders to raise their respective alert levels at their discretion as the campaign period for local elections starts today.

"We are still on normal alert right now, we will declare a higher alert in case needed, so we can react accordingly. As for the moment, everything seems to be normal," Galang said.

Galang said a peace pact has been drafted among the PNP, the Church leaders and local officials to get a commitment from local candidates for peaceful and orderly elections on May 10.

"We have issued the directives to our field commanders to coordinate with concerned and responsible groups particularly the CBCP and the PPCRV for covenant signing," Galang said.

Galang said the PNP is also coordinating with other religious groups, including the influential Iglesia ni Cristo and El Shaddai, to help local law enforcement authorities to carry out a violence-free electoral exercise.

He said the PNP is also continuing its operations on the gun ban implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) since it started Dec. 15.

"Part of our preparation is the usual implementation of the Comelec gun ban by the PNP in coordination (with) the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Galang said.

PNP operations chief Director Avelino Razon reported yesterday that a haul of 959 firearms and 240 deadly weapons and explosives in the first 100 days of the nationwide gun ban. A total of 1,198 violators have been arrested.

Razon attributed the success of the gun ban to intelligence operations of the PNP and the military in setting up roadblocks aside from anticipating scenarios of criminal activities in certain areas and securing personalities and installations at risk.

Police Community Relations director Chief Superintendent Victor Luga said 339 criminal cases have been filed for violation of election laws relative to the gun ban.

The PNP reported 1,141 civilians, 28 PNP personnel, 20 servicemen, six government officials, three each from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP and militiamen from the Citizens’ Auxiliary Forces and Geographical Unit (Cafgu) have been arrested for violating the gun ban.

Razon also said the PNP recorded a total of 46 election-related violent incidents nationwide since Dec. 15, with 47 casualties and 110 injuries.

This included the Jan. 4 bombing in Parang, Maguindanao which left 18 people killed and 80 others wounded, including the incumbent mayor seeking reelection, Razon added.

Razon admitted the threat from communist New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas remains the major problem of the PNP on election day.

PNP public information officer Senior Superintendent Joel Goltiao said the NPA has figured in 159 violent incidents since the start of the election campaign period, killing a total of 24 civilians, 23 soldiers, 15 policemen and 11 Cafgu members.

The military also listed 55 rebels getting killed in separate encounters with the military.

Goltiao said a recent clash with the police in San Felipe, Zambales left nine NPA guerrillas killed.

He said the NPA also suffered major setbacks in the Southern Tagalog region, Caraga, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and Bicol regions.