• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Anticipating intense campaigning before the campaign period ends on October 28, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday urged candidates and their followers to avoid violence.
The synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections is slated on Oct. 30.
Lacson said he was told by PCol. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, that they have not recorded any election related violent incidents (ERVI), as of this time, with four days left before the election.
“I hope we can maintain that,” the governor said.
A formal sendoff ceremony for security forces will be held on Oct. 27 at the parade grounds of both the Bacolod City Police Office and Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City.
Provincial Comelec supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria yesterday said that there are enough security forces available to ensure that the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be peaceful and orderly.
Ananoria added that the Joint Peace Security Coordinating Center (JPSCC) has already dispatched troops in some far flung barangays, especially those included in the 51 Election Areas Concern( EAC), ahead of the polls.
He also assured teachers serving as Board of Election Inspectors in hinterland barangays, of adequate security, as the assigned police and Army personnel will remain there until all votes are counted.
In a statement, PBrig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor, regional police director of Western Visayas, who is expected to attend the sendoff ceremony of security forces on Friday in Bacolod City, stressed the 5 Cs needed to succeed in the task of securing the BSKE 2023: Coordination, Communication, Collaboration, Commitment, and Christ.
On the other hand, Ananoria said that all accountable forms to be used for the polls have already been sent, especially to far-flung areas, and contingency plans are also in place in case election paraphernalia is either damaged or is not enough.
He reminded voters not to sell their votes, and warned those who may engage in vote buying, stressing also that they have established Kontra Bigay desks all over the province, to attend to complaints on vote buying.
To the losing candidates, respect the decision of the people, Ananoria said.*
