By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – A total of 310 personnel from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) arrived in Negros Oriental on Tuesday to help secure the May 12 midterm elections.
Police Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), said the reinforcements were immediately deployed to various voting centers across the province.
The officers were welcomed in a ceremony at the provincial police parade grounds in Sibulan town.
They will supplement the province’s existing 1,400-strong police force to ensure at least two officers are present at each polling precinct, as required by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Polinar emphasized the directive from Police Col. Ronan Claravall, Norppo provincial director, for all personnel to exercise maximum tolerance and maintain political neutrality during the polls.
Authorities earlier identified La Libertad town and Guihulngan City as election areas of concern.
So far, no election-related incidents or threats to candidates have been reported, though intelligence monitoring remains active in coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
“This is what we are concerned about—that when things are quiet, something might suddenly happen. But we have constant monitoring and are strengthening our intelligence drive,” Polinar said.
He also addressed concerns over the impact of Kanlaon Volcano, currently under Alert Level 3 and situated near Canlaon City.
Polinar said Comelec has contingency measures in place and police are ready to assist in rescue or evacuation efforts if needed.
The additional police personnel are expected to remain in Negros Oriental until May 15.
The province is under close watch after it was previously placed under Comelec control following the March 2023 assassination of then-Gov. Roel Degamo in Pamplona town.
Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, officer-in-charge of the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), earlier assured that Bacolod City’s security remains intact despite the personnel augmentation.
The Philippine Army will also deploy 1,500 troops from the 302nd Infantry Brigade to assist police forces in securing the province.
