Sunday, March 04, 2007 Davao City not an 'area of concern'
ONLY 11 out of the total 183 barangays of Davao City are identified as insurgency-affected and are known to be the staging areas for the CPP-NPA's "Permit to Campaign" activities for the local and national elections.
Senior Superintendent Jaime H. Morente, Davao City Police Director said at Grand Men Seng Hotel Friday.
The far-flung areas of Paquibato district remain to have the most number of barangays considered to be "insurgency-affected" while the boundaries of Buhangin, Marilog, and Calinan especially those in the peripheries of North Cotabato and Davao del Norte are being kept under close watch.
Morente, however, said the city has no history of election-related violence and is neither identified to be a haven of armed groups and is therefore not a Comelec area of concern.
He said despite the relative peace and order in the city, the PNP in coordination with the military particularly the Task Force Davao, will continue to keep an eye on the threats of terrorism especially with the onset of one big celebration which is the 70th "Araw Ng Dabaw."
The city director said the police and TF Davao's three major areas of concerns include the strict implementation of the gun ban and enforcement of other Comelec resolutions to ensure the conduct of honest and peaceful elections just like in the previous years.
The election period begins January 14 and the police will be very busy maintaining peace and order and that of ensuring the security of candidates, especially at the start of the campaign period of candidates for governors, mayors and councilors on March 30, 2007, Morente said.
Another major area of concern for the law enforcement agencies, he said is the influx of visitors for the forthcoming "Araw Ng Dabaw" celebrations and the continuing vigilance against the threats of terrorism.
Morente also stressed the need for public vigilance and the support of the different government agencies without which the campaign to effectively combat criminalities and thwart the threats of terrorism will not be as effective. (PIA)
