Tuesday, May 08, 2007 S. Mindanao polls peaceful so far: Comelec By Grace L. Plata
THOUGH Mindanao suffers the worst perception with regards to electoral fraud and violence, the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Southern Mindanao said Davao Region is comparatively better than all other areas in the country.
"Comparatively speaking, our elections in the region have been peaceful and not tainted by allegations of cheating," Comelec-Southern Mindanao information officer Melcar Unso said.
Unso said election-related violence in the region have been limited to minor incidents.
"Sometimes even if the crime is not election-related, it is said to be so as it happened during election season and the person is known to have connections with political personalities," Unso said.
Unso, however, assured the voting public that they are secure during the May 14 polls.
"We already had a coordinating conference with the military and the police forces to make sure that voters and the polling places are secure," Unso said.
In earlier interview, Police Regional Office-Southern Mindanao spokesperson Chief Inspector Querubin Manalang said 4,000 Philippine National Police personnel will be deployed for security purposes.
Task Force Davao will secure barangays in the Toril and Tubok areas while the rest of the far-flung barangays in the region will be secured by the Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion.
Police personnel, however, will be the escorts of the board of election inspectors and will secure the polling places.
