Friday, June 15, 2007 Bogo on full alert for plebiscite
BEGINNING today, the Bogo Police Station will be placed on full alert while police stations surrounding it will be on heightened alert for tomorrow’s plebiscite.
The police stations of San Remigio, Tabuelan, Sogod and Tabogon towns will be on heightened alert in case the Bogo Police Station needs additional personnel.
“As of this moment, we have not seen any problems that may crop up. But this is part of our contingency plan. If and when we need additional personnel, it will be easy to mobilize them from the neighboring stations,” said Acting Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Carmelo Valmoria.
A gun ban is also in effect in Bogo until Monday, while a liquor ban will be imposed today and tomorrow.
Gambling is also prohibited in the town tomorrow.
With the end of the election period, Valmoria ordered the return of four police chiefs and 34 police personnel to their original posts.
Relieved
These personnel were relieved prior to the elections to avoid perceptions of partisanship. The police chiefs have served in their assignments for more than two years, while the personnel had relatives running for office.
There were eight police chiefs relieved before the elections. However, with the plebiscite in Bogo, Valmoria said he could not reinstate the original Bogo police chief yet.
The Commission on Elections en banc declared May 30 to June 18 as the plebiscite period in Bogo, and there is a prohibition on the transfer of personnel during this period.
Because of this, four police officials cannot yet return to their original posts.
Bogo is currently headed by Supt. Larson Dechino, who used to be with the Danao City Police Station.
Danao City is now headed by Supt. Tito Satera, who was pulled out from the Sibonga Police Station.
Sibonga is now under Chief Insp. Laurel Almirante while former Bogo Police Chief, Insp. Arturo Pacifico, is now with the San Remigio Police Station.
Valmoria said their reinstatement will take effect on June 19, after the plebiscite period.
Orders
He also wants Dechino to stay put because he was the one involved in the security preparations during the elections.
As for the other police chiefs, orders for their return were signed yesterday.
From Balamban, Supt. Renato Malazarte switched posts with Chief Insp. Anthony Bagarinao at the Naga Police Station.
From Ginatilan, Insp. Dionfe Español replaced Insp. Daniel Comision at the Alegria Police Station. (MEA)
