DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete has expressed his support to the proposed signing of a peace covenant by the political candidates running for various elective posts in the May 9 synchronized polls.
The prelate gave his assurance of support to Chief Superintendent Conrado Capa, the newly designated OIC regional director of the Philippine National Police of the Negros Island Region or Region 18.
Capa paid a courtesy call on Bishop Cortes Tuesday morning at the latter’s residence in Dumaguete City, after his brief visit to the Negros Oriental PNP Provincial Office (NORPPO) for the activation of the Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Council.
The discussions between the NIR director and the Dumaguete prelate centered on the series of shooting incidents in the province that was largely attributed to the illegal drugs problem, as well as the upcoming elections.
On the illegal drugs problem, Capa told the bishop that he has directed the PNP in Negros Oriental to sustain their operations at the city, municipal and barangay levels.
According to Bishop Cortes, the PNP regional director appeared to downplay earlier reports that Negros Oriental was one of the “election hotspots” in the country in the forthcoming polls.
Capa had admitted Negros Oriental was indeed in the list of the PNP’s election watch list areas but this was something not to be too concerned about.
The PNP hierarchy had announced last December that Negros Oriental, Pangasinan, Masbate, Samar, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur were the “election hotspots” to be closely watched and secured in the mid-term elections in May.
Bishop Cortes said he will ask Fr. Burton Villarmente, the director of the diocesan Social Action Center, to coordinate with the PNP to support the peace covenant signing.
Capa had told the media in an interview that he has directed the police chiefs and police unit commanders in Negros Island to initiate the peace covenants to encourage political candidates to affirm their support for a SAFE (secure and fair) 2016 elections. (FREEMAN)