THE police will recommend the inclusion of six towns and a component city in Cebu in the election watchlist of areas (Ewas), an official said.
Senior Supt. Clifford Gairanod, the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) director, identified Dumanjug, Tuburan, San Fernando, Medellin, Daanbantayan and Carmen as places where there is a history of intense political rivalry.
The police official said they had recorded election-related incidents in Bogo City in previous elections. A standoff occurred between two political groups in the city in May 2010. A few days before the elections in 2013, the police received reports of strafing and mauling incidents and discovery of hand grenades.
In the 2013 elections, Bogo City was one of three cities and 11 towns in Cebu Province that fell under Ewas. The recommendation regarding the six towns and one city will be contained in a resolution the police will then submit to the Regional Joint Peace and Security Control Center (RJPSCC).
Gairanod said that the provincial JPSCC, which is composed of the local police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Commission on Elections, has approved the inclusion of the six municipalities and Bogo City in Ewas.
“Posibleng madugangan; posibleng di na ni makuhaan (There is a possibility that there will be additions to the list; there is also a possibility that the list would not be reduced),” he said.
If the list will be approved by RJPSCC, Gairanod said they will give extra security to these places.
“Siyempre, ini-expect natin na magkagubot ba. Basin magkaroon ng standoff utro or problema sa isig isa ka partido (Of course, we expect trouble again. It is possible there will be another standoff or problems between parties),” he said.
He added that the killing last Monday afternoon of Poro Police Station Chief Jonas Tahanlangit in San Francisco, Camotes Islands cannot be considered a case of election-related violence.