THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) over the weekend said it is set to request for re-validation of election "hotspot" tag and convince the national headquarters to delist the city as among the "areas of grave concern" for the 2019 elections.
Cocpo spokesperson Superintendent Mardy Hortillosa said they would make the request this week.
The Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center (RJSCC) convened at Camp Alagar on Friday, January 11.
Hortillosa said they would persuade the higher headquarters that the city should not be listed as a “hotspot" for elections as there have been no election-related violence in the past nor presence of armed groups.
"Usa sa nahisgutan sa RJSCC meeting nga maghimo ta og request nga ma-validate utro ang information sa national headquarters para mawala ta sa list sa election hot spot," Hortillosa said.
"Dili man nato ma-question ang wisdom sa national headquarters pero matud pa continuous ang validation kay mismo ang region wala makahibalo ug wala ta gitagaan sa reasons nganong naapil ang Cagayan de Oro sa list," he added.
Police said there are parameters before a city or town lands on the "hotspot" list such as presence of intense political rivalry, record of election-related violent incidents in the past and presence of armed groups.
Hortillosa said the listing of the city as election "hotspot" may be advantageous for Cocpo as it would mean more policemen will be deployed to ensure peaceful and orderly elections.
However, he said the "hotspot" tag would adversely affect the city.
"Madaot ang reputation sa Cagayan de Oro kay ang uban dili na lang moanhi sa syudad kay gubot during election period so dako kini og disadvantage sa credibility sa atong mga leaders sauna ug karon," Hortillosa said.
During the RJSCC meeting, the police presented the peace and order update while the military briefed the body on the insurgency situation within its area of responsibility.
Hortillosa said the RJSCC initially discussed deployment and security plan, gun ban, alcohol ban, illegal campaign, vote buying, among others.
"Duna pay next nga mga meetings and posible naa pay daghan changes especially kung naay bag-ong mga information nga manulod," he said.