POLICEMEN will be deployed to serve as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) in place of the teachers on Monday’s Barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections in an island village in Zamboanga City.

They will be assigned in Busay, one of the four villages in Sacol Island.

Lawyer Stephen Roy Cañete, first district election officer, said that the decision was arrived at as the teachers assigned in Busay have threats on their lives.

Cañete said at least 14 policemen will serve as BEIs during the conduct of the barangay and SK elections on Monday.

He said 12 of the 14 policemen will serve as BEIs while the remaining two will act as supervisor and support staff.

The village of Busay has a total of 1,200 voters with four clustered precincts.

The island of Sacol, located east of this city, is being used by lawless elements as jump-off point and stop over area in transiting from Basilan to other parts of the region and vice-versa. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)