After Barangay Elections, PNP still on red alert for November 1 & 2

CEBU, Philippines - After securing the barangay elections, the police will continuously be busy as they ensure the peaceful and orderly observance of All Souls and All Saints Day.

Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, said the red alert status raised before the October 28 elections in Central Visayas will continue until November 2.

"Naka-lay down na ang preparations natin. Just like in the previous Undas, we will deploy personnel especially in bus terminals, seaports and even in airports," he said.

Police Action Centers (PACs) will also be established in strategic areas to cater the public who will flock the cemeteries on November 1, said Constantino.

He further said that he will direct all city and provincial directors in the region to go around their respective jurisdictions and check the situation themselves.

Since All Souls Day is a Friday, which marks the long weekend, the PRO 7 chief said they expect an influx of passengers as early as Thursday.

"Kapag maraming tao, ang tendency niyan, magta-take advantage ang mga criminal elements, so we will prevent that," said Constantino, saying that pickpocket incidents are prevalent in this season.

A sufficient number of traffic enforcers will also be deployed to manage the traffic flow, Constantino added.

For Cebu City, city police director Noli Romana said closed-circuit television cameras will be installed in the three largest cemeteries in the city — Carreta, Calamba, and Cempark cemeteries.

PACs will also be in place in the major cemeteries starting tomorrow, he said.

"From earthquake, to election, to Kalag-Kalag, our police personnel will maintain the momentum, tuloy-tuloy na ang pagbantay sa kaayusan sa syudad," said Romana.

Constantino reminded the public anew to properly secure their houses before heading to the cemeteries and also to prevent themselves from falling prey to robbers and snatchers by bringing limited cash and refrain from wearing expensive jewelries.

Meanwhile, up until the proclamation of the winners yesterday, Constantino stressed that the conduct of the barangay elections last Monday was generally peaceful and successful.

He reiterated in yesterday's interview with reporters that incidents related to the elections did not disrupt the national activity.

Even the declaration of a policewoman on the alleged failure of election in Catmon town is not true since the election in Barangay Amancion of the said town pushed through around 1 pm of the same day.

"Wala siyang authority from the Comelec and from PRO 7 to declare failure of election. Okay lang kung nagpa-interview siya sa peace and order situation sa barangay," said Constantino.

PO1 Mary Grace Marquez, who is assigned with Catmon Police's Police Community Relations branch, will be facing pre-charge evaluation because of this.

Meanwhile, Constantino said he will request again from Camp Crame for the 130 personnel of the Regional Public Safety Battalion deployed in Zamboanga City to return here to help secure the elections in Bohol which was moved to November 25 following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that caused major damage to the province.

The Cebu troops who were deployed in Zambonga City last September 11 to help the government forces counter MNLF rebels were supposed to come home already but were sent to Sulu last Monday where they were assigned as Board of Election Tellers.

"Nabigla tayo sa order kasi nga may kakulangan tayo sa personnel dito, but wala tayong magagawa doon if utos ng Comelec. We are just deputized," said Constantino.

The RPSB personnel are expected to return before the Bohol elections on November 25, the PRO 7 chief said. — (FREEMAN)