‘Zero poll violence’

Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon said yesterday they are on target to achieving their objective of zero election-related violent incidents in Metro Manila in the coming May elections.

With 27 days to go before the May 10 national and local polls, the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) has yet to receive a single election-related incident despite the fact that the number of "hot spots" in Metro Manila rose from 17 to 18 barangays. Election hot spots in the metropolis reached a high of 31 barangays early last month.

De Leon said the deployment of personnel from the Armed Force of the Philippines-National Capital Region (AFP-NCR), under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Boysie Braganza, to the 18 hot spots in Metro Manila would further strengthen their chances of attaining their goal of zero election-related incidents.

The military deployment was made in coordination with Esperanza Ladra, head of the Commission on Elections-NCR, he said.

"The NCRPO would be on heightened alert up to the May 10 elections," De Leon said.

Apart from the regular responsibilities of NCRPO personnel in the campaign against all forms of criminality, the current focus of overall efforts exerted by his command is to ensure that the citizenry is able to enjoy its right to suffrage while preserving the sanctity of the ballots.

"Our role remains constant, to protect the rights of the citizenry and to stay neutral in all democratic processes" he said as he repeated his warning against electioneering to the 17,000-strong NCRPO rank-and-file.

The NCRPO chief gave his assurance that campaign rallies of local and national bets will sufficiently be secured, where the primary consideration is the maintenance of zero incidence of election-related violence in the metropolis.

In pursuit of the Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections (HOPE), the five police district directors and 37 station commanders have coordinated with the Pastoral Parish Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) for the forging of peace covenants among candidates for local elective posts.

De Leon also reiterated his call to all local candidates in Metro Manila and their supporters to abide by all election laws in their respective campaigns for the conduct of HOPE in May. He revealed that 420 people have been arrested since December for violating the Comelec gun ban and for posting campaign materials in prohibited areas.

The latest to be arrested for gun ban violation was Victor Patelo, who was caught with a caliber .45 automatic pistol by a Quezon City mobile patrol unit.

The suspect was on board a taxi when the patrol car was tipped of his presence which led to his arrest.

Patelo was charged with violation of the gun ban.

"These measures, along with the participation of the members of the community, have proven vital in ensuring that no election-related incidents occurs in our area of jurisdiction," De Leon said.