1K soldiers, cops set to secure 5th district

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Around 1,000 members of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), and the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) will be deployed to the 5th district of Negros Occidental on June 2 during the conduct of a special election there.

Colonel Oscar Lactao, 303rd IBde commander, said that even if there is no barangay categorized as “election watchlist area” or hotspot in the district, these soldiers and policemen would be sent there to ensure the special polls will be peaceful and orderly.

Lactao said they are going to maximize visibility operations in the district, particularly in six hinterland barangays categorized as “NPA (New People’s Army)-influenced areas.”

Two of these baragays are in La Castellana, one in Moises Padilla, one in Binalbagan and two in Himamaylan City. There are no barangays considered as NPA-influenced in Hinigaran and Isabela towns.

Major Alex Elnar, operations officer of the 303rd IBde, said the six barangays were classified as “NPA-influenced areas” but not as “election hotspot.”

Elnar said the assessment of the different barangays in the District was made during Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center meeting held two weeks ago at the NOPPO Headquarters.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental Police director, said they have not monitored any report of existing private armed groups being maintained by politicians in Negros Occidental.

Provincial election supervisor Jessie Suarez, who presided over the joint conference on Monday, appealed to the candidates and their supporters to observe Comelec guidelines, particularly on posters or campaign materials. —(FREEMAN)