FIVE days before the May 13 elections, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña officially asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to put the city under its control following allegations of irregularities in the conduct of police operations.

Lawyer Marchel Sarno, election officer in the south district, said they received the letter from the mayor on Wednesday afternoon, May 8.

“He just informed us about the strafing incidents in the mountain barangays and the alleged irregularities in the implementation of some search warrants,” Sarno said.

But even before the request of Osmeña, Sarno said Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Royina Garma also sent a letter to them informing the election body of details surrounding an incident during a police check point in Barangay Kasambagan last April 28.

During the incident, a supporter of Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos, who is running as vice mayor under the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, allegedly did not stop when the police flagged him down.

Sarno said they forwarded Osmeña’s letter to the central office in Manila for evaluation to determine if there is enough ground to put the city under Comelec control.

However, Sarno said evaluation will take time.

Under Comelec Resolution 10481, the Comelec En Banc will exercise the authority to place certain areas in the country under its control.

Once an area is declared under Comelec control, the commission has the authority to reshuffle or relieve members of the Philippine National Police and relieve any public officer or employee who violates election law or fails to comply with its instructions, orders, decisions or rulings from the performance of their duties relating to electoral processes and appoint their substitute.

The Comelec can also require the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), as deputized agency to look into the existence of any armed group organized to commit, or is committing or attempting to commit the acts of terrorism, or threats to intimidate or coerce any person to vote for or against a certain candidate.

The Comelec may also enjoin or recommend to DILG to take appropriate actions including but not limited to the suspension of local government officials involved in the violation of election laws or failure to comply with any ruling or decision of the commission.

The Comelec, through DILG, may also appoint any local elected official as officer-in-charge of such area.

Meanwhile, at least 5,000 police officers will secure the polling places in the city and province of Cebu during the midterm elections on Monday, May 13.

On Wednesday, May 8, Garma called for a meeting with her 11 police station chiefs for their security planning.

She told her lower unit commanders to follow the Comelec rules and remain non-partisan.

According to CCPO information officer Police Captain Arieza Otida, the city police are ready for elections even if there will be no augmentation force from the Police Regional Office 7.

For his part, Cebu Provncial Police Office Director Manuel Abrugena said more than 2,000 officers will be deployed to over 1,900 polling precincts in 44 municipalities and six component cities. (RVC with a report from AYB of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)