AHEAD of the scheduled plebiscite on December 7, 2019 for the ratification of the law renaming Compostela Valley as Davao de Oro, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao assured that police forces are on guard to secure the safe staging of the activity with augmentation of more policemen. According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 10600, Plebiscite Day will be held on December 7 from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. The counting and canvassing of votes will immediately follow after the closing of voting with the proclamation of plebiscite results expected at its conclusion. Police Brigadier General Filmore Escobal, PRO-Davao director, said the Compostela Valley Police Provincial Office (CVPPO) will provide security to ensure the safe conduct of the plebiscite in the province and maintenance of law and order. Escobal said they added more personnel coming from the PRO-Davao to increase police visibility. Asked if they should have monitored some threats, he said there was none but they are on high alert to prevent any possible atrocities. The PRO-Davao official, however, is not discounting the possibility that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will take advantage of the activity. Escobal assured the collective effort of the security forces to prevent them. "Our police forces are monitoring them and they are capable of preventing those plans, and of course, with the active support of the local government under Governor Tyron Uy and also the Armed Forces of the Philippines who leads the efforts on addressing itong threat from the CPP-NPA-NDF," he said. They have also prepared contingency plans should there be an untoward incident. Their personnel also underwent training to effectively secure the plebiscite. So far, they have not monitored any groups who have expressed strong opposition against the renaming. Escobal observed that people are already calling their province as Davao de Oro. "Walang namo-monitor na opposition (There was no opposition) as to the renaming of the province so I believe that the plebiscite will run smoothly," he said. On November 28, President Rodrigo Duterte earlier declared December 7 as a special non-working holiday in the province of Compostela Valley to give way for the plebiscite. During the plebiscite period, it is prohibited to carry or transport firearms and other deadly weapons in public places. Republic Act 11297, which renamed Compostela Valley as Davao de Oro, took effect on April 17, 2019. Records of the Comelec show that there were a total of 462,942 registered voters in Compostela Valley during the May 2019 national and local elections. 2.