• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine National Police will tap 1,735 policemen personnel for election duties in Negros Occidental during the May 12 elections, provincial police spokesman P/Capt. Judesses Catalogo disclosed on Friday.
In a Commission on Elections briefing held at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, Catalogo said they are now on 100 percent full alert, with all vacation leaves of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office personnel having been cancelled.
He, however, said that pregnant policewomen and those with health concerns are exempted from deployment for election duties.
NOCPPO has a manpower strength of more than 2,300 personnel.
Catalogo also announced that every polling precinct will be secured by two police personnel, while the Philippine Army will have to secure the hinterland areas which may not be covered by the Philippine National Police.
P/Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) chief, said they will deploy over 800 policemen during election day in Bacolod City, with five police officers assigned to each of the 48 polling precincts.
Except for Candoni town, the 31 local government units in the province, including highly urbanized Bacolod City, are under the green category for the upcoming May 12 elections, which indicates no security concerns.
NOCPPO also established a police liaison for candidates, who they can immediately contact if there are threats against them,Catalogo said.
Regarding the threat assessment they conducted on the 731 candidates in Negros Occidental, excluding highly urbanized Bacolod City, he said that none have complained of receiving any [threats].
Catalogo further said that NOCPPO has already dismantled private armed groups in previous years. He, however, said that their monitoring of such groups continues.*
