A JOINT Provincial Security Control Center meeting regarding the concerns on May elections was conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army at the Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City Thursday, January 27, 2022.

Negros Occidental Provincial Election Supervisor lawyer Roberto Salazar presided over the meeting, which was attended by 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) commander Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noccpo) acting director Colonel Leo Pamittan, and 302nd Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Leonardo Peňa.

During the meeting, lawyer Revo Sorbito, election officer IV of Bacolod City, discussed pertinent Comelec Resolutions in relation to Omnibus Election Code while the contingency plan was discussed by Colonel Edison Garcia, who is the chief for Provincial Operations Management Unit.

Captain John Derrick Vigo of the 303rd IB presented the security situation in Negros Occidental.

After the presentations, a ceremonial signing of the inter-agency contingency plan was held which was in response to possible problems that may arise before, during or after the elections in May 2022.

Meanwhile, a covenant signing ensuring the peaceful conduct of election in the province was also held at Nocppo Headquarters Thursday.

It was attended by religious leaders representing different denominations including Mohamad Abdul Aparesio representing Omar Betita, the Muslim Leader of DAR-ALDIKHR Islamic and Guidance Center, Fr. Francisco Perez representing Diocese of Bacolod Bishop Most Reverend Patricio Buzon.

After the candidates took their oath, they signed the covenant that contains the rules and laws pertinent to Comelec Resolutions governing the conduct of clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful elections. (PR)