LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The newly installed provincial director of Benguet Philippine National Police (PNP) rallied the local residents here to maintain the generally peaceful situation of their province.
Senior Superintendent Wilber M. Mayor, in an audience with the members of the Provincial Board (PB), took cognizance to the traditionally peaceful situation in the province as he expects that it will remain peaceful during the whole duration of the election period.
"I learned that the province of Benguet is one of the peaceful provinces not only in the Cordilleras but in whole country," quipped Mayor whose present assignment in Benguet is his first as provincial director.
Mayor urged the local officials, candidates to the various elected local positions and the Benguet populace to cooperate while assuring the full support of the PNP to ensure an honest, orderly and peaceful election.
Discussing the present programs of the PNP, Mayor said their office is now focusing on the Commission on Election (Comelec) Resolution on implementation of gun ban through an intensified establishment of checkpoints in strategic places to prevent the possible proliferation of guns in the province.
Mayor, who just assumed this January reported that so far the province of Benguet does not have reports on election related incidents, particularly on violations on gun ban since its implementation last January 10.
The new PD said he has scheduled meeting with the Chiefs of Police of the 13 Municipal Police Stations and Election Officers of the different municipalities to discuss in details the various Comelec Resolutions and election related issues and for them to disseminate to their respective personnel and constituents.
He said the police will also get involved in the information drive on the poll automation.
Responding to queries from the members of the Board on the sudden change of command, Mayor explained the transfer of police officers is just part of the routine transfers of assignment of police officers in the PNP. He added that because it is election period, it is the Comelec, with the clearance of the Philippine National Police command, which is in-charge of the transfer of assignment of police officers.
Mayor replaced Police Senior Superintendent Danilo Espineli who was assigned to Camp Crame Headquarters. (Andrew Doga-ong)