By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here will deploy an estimated total of 2,600 security forces for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the province.
Police Major Rhojn Darell Nigos, newly-designated public information officer of Nocppo, said that 2,400 are Nocppo personnel, while the remaining are augmentation forces from the other law enforcement units such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), among others.
Nigos said they have started the initial deployment of personnel in every locality since August 28.
There will be additional augmentation personnel from other units in the coming days, Nigos said, adding that there has been no finality yet on the total number of deployments as it may still increase.
Meanwhile, he said that a covenant signing for a peaceful, fair, and safe BSKE was held at the Nocppo headquarters here yesterday.
Provincial Election Officer Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria led the National Multi-Sectoral Peace Assembly for BSKE.
Ananoria stressed the importance of the policemen in the election process as the protector of ballots, guardians of people, and guardians of democracy, with the help of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The event concluded with the ceremonial release of white doves which symbolizes peace and a state of tranquility which also characterizes respect of justice and goodwill.
Nigos said that 51 barangays in the province have been identified as areas of concern for BSKE due to some factors such as the presence of the New People’s Army (NPA), election-related incidents in the past, and threats.
He added that the provincial police force has assured that they are prepared to provide security during the BSKE.
Simulation exercises have been conducted and monitoring and coordination with concerned agencies are also being done.
“We are ready for any untoward incident that may transpire,” he said.
Nigos said the additional deployment of personnel will be right after the MassKara Festival here.
The campaign period will start from October 19 to 28, while the election day is on October 30.
Aside from the peace assembly, outstanding units and police stations received a plaque of recognition for the successful conduct of a joint operation that led to the swift recovery of 1,000 bags of sugar that were carted away by robbers who first acted as victims of an alleged hijacking incident on September 26.
Among these awardees were the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Unit led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Eduardo Corpuz, the Provincial Intelligence Unit led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Evan Salvo, Bago Component City Police Station led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Jay Malong, La Carlota Component City Police Station led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Lowell Garinganao, and Murcia Municipal Police Station led by Police Major Mark Joeil Reclamado.
