‘Hotspots’ don’t live up to name

CEBU. A supporter hugs incumbent San Fernando, Cebu Mayor Lakambini Reluya, who is leading in the poll results. San Fernando has been identified as an election hotspot. (Alex Badayos)
CEBU. A supporter hugs incumbent San Fernando, Cebu Mayor Lakambini Reluya, who is leading in the poll results. San Fernando has been identified as an election hotspot. (Alex Badayos)

WHEN an area is identified as an election hotspot, most expect problems relating to peace and order.

This was not the case during the midterm elections in Cebu last Monday, May 13, as problems reported in these areas were the voter registration and verification machine (VRVM) and the vote counting machine (VCM) that bogged down in the middle of the voting process.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Manuel Abrugena said the augmentation force played a huge part in keeping the peace in these areas.

“We received reports of conflict between supporters, but upon verification, these turned out negative,” he said, adding that he did not expect any trouble or immediate threats.

He said they will continue to conduct checkpoints in different parts of San Fernando to maintain peace and order in the southern town, while securing the transport of election paraphernalia.

They also increased police visibility and information gathering in neighboring towns and cities.

Mother and son tandem, Lakambini and Ricci Reluya, who are running for mayor and vice mayor, respectively, led the poll results in San Fernando.

But the victorious shouts of their supporters in the municipal hall was marred by a power outage that also affected the mayor’s house.

A team from the San Fernando police, Regional Special Operations Group, Task Force Cebu of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command and the Bureau of Fire Protection were dispatched to investigate.

Reluya’s rival, mayoralty candidate Ruben Feliciano, remained confident that he would win, but assured that he would respect the will of the people.

In northern Cebu, acting Tuburan election officer Desierto Hortelano Jr. and acting San Francisco election officer Benedicto Santiago said there were no reports of election-related violence or voters being prevented from voting in their respective areas of responsibility.

“Our peace and order situation remains at a good state because of the cooperation also of the candidates and their supporters,” Hortelano said.

In San Francisco, Camotes Island, Santiago said at least 20 police officers and 22 soldiers were deployed in their area to help maintain peace and order.

Tuburan, San Francisco, San Fernando, Ronda, Dumanjug, Daanbantayan, Asturias and Pinamungajan were placed under the orange category by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), based on the recommendation of the regional joint security control centers.

Under the orange category are areas with a history of election-related violence or the existence of intense partisan political rivalry, as well as serious armed threats posed by domestic terror groups and other analogous armed groups.

The cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Danao, Bogo, Carcar and the municipalities of Pilar, Poro and Tudela in Camotes, and Madridejos, Sta. Fe and Bantayan were placed under the yellow category, which are areas with a history of election-related violence or the existence of intense partisan political rivalry, but without the participation of domestic terror groups. (JKV, RTF, JOB, MEA)

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