BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) urged local election candidates to respect the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) checkpoints that cops are manning.
It issued the appeal NOCPPO following an incident in Pilar, Abra province – a bodyguard working for the town’s vice mayor got shot after the politician’s convoy refused to stop at a COMELEC checkpoint.
The incident also sparked a standoff for two days. Twelve of the vice mayor’s security aides eventually surrendered to the police.
NOCPPO spokesperson Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, said drivers must stop at checkpoints for inspection.
She also advised politicians to make sure that the firearms of their security personnel are licensed.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) assured Western Visayans its unit commanders across the region were instructed to make their respective security implementing plans operational. The goal is to prevent crimes and address concerns pertaining to safety and security.
“It is our objective that this coming national and local elections are secure, safe, peaceful, and orderly. We prepared early. We will keep on tracking the results and progress of our plans,” said Police Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo, regional police director.
The PRO-6 is “working closely” with Comelec and coordinating with other government agencies, he added.
In the campaign against lose firearms and the enforcement of the gun ban as March 21, the PRO-6 arrested 119 violators and confiscated 69 assorted firearms and 59 bladed weapons.
Under Comelec Resolution 10728, all permits to carry firearms outside of residence are suspended except those of regular members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies (OLEA) of the government who are duly deputized in writing by the Commission for the election period.
However, these authorized law enforcers, when in possession of firearms, must be in full uniform showing clearly and legibly their names, ranks and serial numbers./PN
