THE Commission on Elections (Comelec), the army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) declared the elections in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City as generally peaceful.

Atty. Tictac Villanueva, provincial election supervisor, said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP security plan have worked very well.

“There has been no reported violence or any untoward incident during the duration of the voting period all over the province,” Villanueva said.

Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Brigade of the Philippine Army, said that the election was peaceful with no violent incident.

But as far as the voting period is concerned it turned out well despite having placed some areas in the province under red status and Comelec control. “I have talked with the battalion commanders and they have the same assessment,” Arevalo said.

Arevalo said complaints on vote-buying was a concern that has been acted by the PNP.

Arevalo added that because of immediate action by the security forces in Moises Padilla, the barricade which was earlier reported did not happen unlike in previous elections where people were barred from going to the polling precincts.

“People in Moises Padilla were able to vote freely. This is the first time we have the Comelec control in Negros and it ended well,” Arevalo said.

Proclamation

Villanueva said proclamation of winners may start on Wednesday.

She said that per Comelec Resolution, procedures must be followed before the proclamation of winners in the election could take place.

“We cannot skip or override the procedures so there will be no proclamation that may take place tonight,” Villanueva said.

Aside from some glitch encountered with some vote counting machines (VCM), Villanueva said 220 ballots intended for San Enrique were delivered in Iloilo while 82 ballots intended for Lemery, Iloilo were delivered in Hda.Paz, Murcia. The situation was immediately addressed before noontime, Villanueva said.

Bacolod City

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Police Office spokesperson Police Major Ariel Pico said Monday, May 13, no significant incidents were reported in all polling precincts in the city.

He said on Sunday evening, they received some reports of alleged vote-buying, but it turned out negative.

“We deployed a total of 513 security forces in various areas of Bacolod to ensure peaceful and orderly elections,” he added.

BCPO also escorted the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) in transporting the vote counting machines (VCMs) from their respective polling precincts to Bacolod Arts and Youth Sports Center (Bayscenter).

BCPO successfully implemented the 48-hour liquor ban with no violators arrested.

The liquor ban started from 12:01 a.m. of May 12 until 11:59 p.m. of May 13. The ban includes selling and drinking of alcohol.

The BCPO, led by Police Colonel Henry Binas, was also thankful for the cooperation of the entire police station chiefs, Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology for the success of the elections.