More policemen deployed in Pasay, Taguig

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office rushed at least 90 additional police forces each yesterday in Pasay City and Taguig City to prevent the outbreak of violence among supporters of politicians hotly contesting the top political posts of the two cities.

Though the canvassing of votes are still ongoing in Pasay and Taguig City and several other cities, lawyer Michael Dioneda, head of the National Capital Region (NCR) of the Commission on Elections promised to finish the job by late yesterday and the winners be immediately proclaimed.

NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales said he decided to field “neutral forces” in the two cities after politicians kept on accusing incumbent chiefs of police of favoring their rivals.

“The camps of politicians in the two cities kept on calling me accusing the police of being bias against them. So I decided to send neutral augmentation forces so maintain peace and order in the said cities,” said Rosales.

He said there are other areas in Metro Manila like Las Piñas City, where the canvassing of votes are still ongoing but he decided not to send additional forces because the May 10 elections there are not “hotly contested.”

The canvassing of votes in Pasay City is being held in the Astrodome while in Taguig City it is being done at City Hall.

Initial reports reaching Rosales showed that Tony Calixto of the Liberal Party is leading incumbent Pasay City Mayor Peewee Trinidad by 2,000 votes.

Rosales said the augmentation forces in Pasay City and Taguig City came from the Regional Mobile Group of the NCRPO and the District Mobile Group of the Southern Police District (SPD).

“It is a close fight between rival politicians so my men are ordered to prevent their supporters from clashing. They can make arrests once the election laws are violated,” said Rosales in an interview.

Rosales said the elections in Metro Manila was peaceful and orderly and he does not want it tainted once violence erupts in Pasay City and Taguig City as the political exercise is winding down.