By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 announced Wednesday that it has already ironed out its security preparations relative to the start of the campaign period for local positions on March 25.
In a statement, PRO-6 said all its unit commanders all over the region were already given instruction to operationalize their respective security implementing plans.
Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo said that security plans are ultimately aimed at preventing possible occurrence of crimes and addressing various concerns pertaining to safety and security.
“It is our objective that this coming National and Local Elections is secure, safe, peaceful and orderly. Thus, we prepare early. We will keep on tracking the results and progress of our plans. In case there is a need for modification and adjustment, we are ready to do so,” he said.
Dongbo said they will also be working closely with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and will coordinate and collaborate with other government agencies for this purpose.
With 46 days remaining before the May 9 polls, PRO-6 said the number of election areas of concerns or “hotspots” remain unchanged.
The Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center (RJSCC) has earlier identified 44 towns and cities in Western Visayas on its election watchlist.
The number is about one-third of Western Visayas’ 16 cities and 117 municipalities.
Meanwhile, Dongbo said the PRO-6 would also continue and intensify its crime prevention efforts and the conduct of COMELEC checkpoints across Western Visayas.
As a result of combined efforts in the implementation of COMELEC gun ban, PRO-6 arrested 119 persons as of March 21.
These arrests led to the confiscation of 69 assorted firearms and 59 bladed weapons.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOcPPO) posted the most number of arrests with 47. It is followed by Iloilo PPO with 19, Aklan PPO with 15, Iloilo City PO with 12, Capiz PPO and Bacolod City with 9 each, and Antique and Guimaras PPO with 4 each.
Cases were already filed in court against the arrested persons.
Under COMELEC Resolution 10728c all permits to carry firearms outside of residence have been suspended except to those regular members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies (OLEA) of the Government who are duly deputized in writing by the Commission for election period.
When in possession of firearms, the deputized law enforcement officer must be in in full uniform showing clearly and legibly his name, rank and serial number, which shall remain visible at all times, and in actual performance of his/her election duty in the specific area designated by the Commission.
“Our actions will continue and will be strengthened until the end of the election period,” Dongbo said.
