Cops may serve as poll workers in Kanlaon-hit areas

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will train police officers to serve as poll workers in case the activity of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros escalates and prevents teachers from doing the job.

Ian Lee Ananoria, provincial election supervisor, said the police would serve as members of the board of election inspectors if teachers are unable report to poll centers.

The Central Visayas police in Cebu has deployed 200 officers in Negros Oriental to perform election-related duties and conduct disaster relief operations.

The Comelec is adjusting its contingency plan for the polls in six local government units (LGUs) in Negros due to the volcanic unrest.

Lionel Marco Castillano, chief of the Comelec-Negros Island Region, earlier said that voting centers would be set up in evacuation centers to accommodate people displaced by the volcanic eruption in December.

Ananoria said the poll body has prepared a contingency plan for the election to push through amid threats posed by Kanlaon.

“Should the alert level be increased from 3 to 4, voting centers will be transferred to local government units where the Kanlaon evacuees will be relocated,” he said.

Makeshift polling centers may also be set up if needed, he added.

Under Alert Level 3, up to 21,393 voters are expected to cast their votes in polling areas to be set up near evacuation centers.

These evacuation centers are located in the cities of Bago, La Carlota and San Carlos as well as the municipalities of La Castellana, Murcia, Moises Padilla and Pontevedra.

The Comelec said that if Alert Level 4 is hoisted, the number of voters in evacuation centers may increase to 81,385.

The poll body – in coordination with law enforcement units, government agencies and concerned LGUs – will transport evacuees to their designated polling centers.