Saturday, April 28, 2007 NegOr’s 1st district gets more cops By Victor L. Camion
THE Regional Mobile Group in Central Visayas has sent two platoons to augment the forces detailed in the first district of Negros Oriental.
Police Provincial Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe told Sun.Star the augmentation force will ensure that peace and order will be maintained in the first district, specifically in La Libertad, during the May 14 election.
La Libertad has the most number of reported incidents that are believed to be election-related.
The town got the additional policemen after the Regional Peace and Order Council, during its meeting last week in Cebu, decided on the additional force in La Libertad.
Aside from the additional men, two double cab hi-lux vehicles were also turned over to the PNP in Negros Oriental to increase its mobility in the province, especially in the first district.
In the council meeting, Buenafe had presented the situation of Negros Oriental, following the arrest and filing of charges against suspected private armies in the first district.
The PNP identified La Libertad in the first district as one of the areas of concern in Negros Oriental.
But Buenafe clarified that it does not mean that La Libertad is now under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
"The police is with the Comelec's position na walang basehan para ipasailalim sa Comelec control ang La Libertad," he said in the interview.
He also said at present the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are closely monitoring all movements in the province, especially in the hinterland barangays where rebel groups are usually seen.
