Capiz COC Filing Peaceful, Police Say

Photo of Police Colonel Albert Tapulao (second from left), Capiz police director; Capiz election supervisor Atty. Salud Milagros Villanueva; Roxas City election officer Atty. Rommel Benliro (first from left); and Police Lt. Col. Francisco Paguia (right), Roxas City police chief, during the conclusion of the COC filing at Robinsons Place-Roxas on October 8, 2024. (Felipe V. Celino)

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The eight-day filing period for Certificates of Candidacy (COC) in Capiz concluded peacefully.

This was the assessment of Police Colonel Albert Tapulao, Capiz police director, during a media interview on Wednesday morning, October 9. He reported that no untoward incidents occurred at the various venues designated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO) deployed 373 personnel to bolster security at the Comelec offices throughout the province.

“We hope this continues through the election period,” Tapulao said.

Tapulao, who assumed office in mid-September, assured the public that the police force, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, will continue augmenting security until and during the campaign period to ensure peaceful and credible elections.

He added that the police are coordinating with election officers in each municipality on further security measures, including deploying personnel to the 466 voting centers and 385 polling precincts.

“We are also reviewing the list of PNP personnel with relatives running for office next year, as well as monitoring Comelec-identified ‘areas of concern’ where political rivalry is intense,” he emphasized.