WITH just 27 days to go before the May 13 polls, the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) is 90 percent ready with its security preparations.
“We have been preparing for this for quite a long time,” said CPPO Director Patrocinio Comendador.
In a press conference yesterday, he said they are only waiting for the augmentation force from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He said they will prioritize 14 towns and three component cities that are considered as election watchlist areas.
A history of election-related violence, intense partisan rivalry and presence of organized crime groups were among the reasons these areas are in the list.
Hot spots
Bogo City, Danao City and Dumanjug town are classified as “high” on the list, where electoral violence will most likely happen.
Barili, Compostela, Consolacion, Daanbantayan, Ginatilan, Medellin, Ronda, San Fernando, San Remigio, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Toledo City and Tuburan are labeled as “moderate.”
Comendador said they will intensify police visibility during the election.
He said they will secure the transportation of election paraphernalia, polling precincts and canvassing areas.
As part of their security plan, special reaction teams will also be on-standby.
Comendador yesterday said they’ve established the Provincial Election Security Task Force, with him as head.
Supt. Glenn Ares, CPPO’s deputy provincial director for administration, will be the overall supervisor in northern Cebu while Supt. Renato Malazarte, CPPO’s deputy provincial director for operations, will oversee southern Cebu.
Crime deterrent
Last week, police began putting up advance command posts to monitor election-related activities.
rDuring the press conference, CCPO identified 10 areas with the most number of voters.
These are Carcar City, Danao City, Naga City, Talisay City, Toledo City, Bantayan, Barili, Consolacion, Liloan and Minglanilla.
As of this month, the CPPO arrested 161 individuals, confiscated 342 firearms, filed 153 cased from the 221 operations they conducted in relation to Comelec gun ban.
In a related development, Acting Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Mariano Natuel Jr. said 20 closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) will be installed in busy intersections and streets and crime-prone areas before the elections.
He said the cameras will serve as a crime deterrent and help them solve crimes.