8,000 cops assigned to poll duties in W. Visayas

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — About 8,000 policemen in Region 6 (Western Visayas) have been assigned to election duties around the region for the May 13 polls.

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Police Regional Office-6 director, said “We are rationalizing our deployment to ensure that we have more personnel manning the polling centers, performing police visibility, and other law enforcement operations.”

Cruz said the blueprint of the security preparations for the polls, in coordination with the Comelec and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was already set.

There are 40 towns and cities in Western Visayas, including 13 in Negros Occidental, that have been placed under the election watch-list areas of the PNP and the Comelec.

Since the start of the local campaign last Saturday, there have been no election-related violence so far reported in Negros Occidental, according to Sr. Supt. Celestino Guara Jr., acting police provincial director, and Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander.

Lactao said they are conducting joint security checkpoints with the PNP in strategic areas of Negros Occidental to deter the commission of crimes and ensure peaceful elections.

As of last week, PRO-6 has recorded 121 peace covenant signings among local candidates in Western Visayas.  (FREEMAN)