NegOr’s ‘poll hotspot’ tag downplayed

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – The Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police have downplayed the Negros Oriental’s tag as an “election hotspot” in the May 9 national and local polls.

This matter came about during the meeting of the Comelec, the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies at the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, where the Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Council was also officially activated for the coming elections.

Chief Superintendent Condrado Capa, newly named director of the Police Regional Office-18 (Negros Island Region), attended the council’s activation and was briefed on the present peace and order situation of Negros Oriental.

In separate interviews Tuesday morning, Capa and Provincial Election Supervisor Eddie Aba made similar pronouncements that while Negros Oriental is among the six areas in the country earlier identified by the PNP as “election hotspots,” there is nothing to worry about.

The other areas are Masbate, Pangasinan, Samar, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, but Capa said it is normal for a province, with intense political rivalry during the previous elections, to be placed in the list of election areas of concern.

Capa said this scenario can, however, change at any time, although there would be variables. The police have been doing their best with their preparations to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections, he said.

“It doesn’t matter. We do the same amount of preparation, and it’s no big deal for me,” he said.

Aba, for his part, admitted the need for additional security preparations in Negros Oriental, especially now that it is included in the election watchlist areas or EWAS.

There is, however, not much to worry about, he said, because this would mean more troops’ deployment to the province, with additional logistics for the elections’ security.

Meanwhile, Aba said the PJSCC will be drafting a contingency plan in the coming weeks, followed by a series of meetings until a final plan will be established a month before Election Day. —/JMD (FREEMAN)