THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) dismissed reports about the alleged presence of armed men in Bacolod City during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
On May 14, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered the police to monitor the alleged presence of an armed group that was sighted in the areas of Barangays Bata, Estefania, Granada, Banago, and Mansilingan.
Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, public information officer of BCPO, said Wednesday, May 16, that the City Election Monitoring Action Center (Cemac) has not monitored reports on sightings of armed men in the city, even in the previous years.
Vargas said the BCPO is even thankful for the success and peaceful conduct of the elections because there were no poll-related incidents that happened.
Vargas said the people of Bacolod have nothing to worry because police are intensifying its visibility patrol to ensure the safety of the community.
She, however, continues to advise the public to stay vigilant and report immediately to authorities any suspicious acts and persons in their respective areas.
As of May 15, a total of 14 gun ban violators were arrested in the city.
No liquor ban violator was even arrested from May 13 to 14.
Vargas said the success can be attributed to the intensive information dissemination campaign of the police with the help of the media that increased the awareness of the public regarding the prohibited acts during the elections.
Meanwhile, all policemen in Negros Occidental that were utilized in the elections have already returned to their previous posts effective yesterday, May 16.
Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., provincial police director, was very pleased with the participation of force multipliers, government agencies and non-government agencies that helped during the elections and gave their full commitment and cooperation in serving the people.