BACOLOD City – There will be 517 police personnel to make sure that the conduct of the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in the city on Monday is peaceful.
They will be deployed to 45 voting centers and seven strategic points, according to Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) spokeswoman Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas.
Each polling precinct will have six police personnel along with members of the quick reaction teams from 10 police stations in Bacolod, Vargas added.
The City Mobile Force Company, on the other hand, will man the seven control points.
Members of the City Mobile Force Company were also instructed to respond if the police stations need additional forces.
Police officers assigned at the polling centers will report to their respective areas of assignment today for an early inspection, Vargas said.
They will inspect water and power supplies in the precincts. Perimeter fences will also be checked.
BCPO head Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo has instructed his personnel on Friday to remain neutral and nonpartisan while serving election duties.
Police officers are not allowed to enter the polling precincts without a written request from the Bureau of Election Inspectors, Vargas said.
They must also avoid contact from election paraphernalia, she added.
Aside from the 517 police officers, 84 personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection and 585 members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and other rescue units will also assist BCPO.
Vargas said the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has not sent augmentation to the BCPO.
Instead, PRO-6 deployed 80 personnel to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
A total of 31 mobile patrol cars, seven fire trucks, 10 ambulances, 59 motorcycles, 54 handheld radios, and 12 base radios will be made available for the May 14 elections. (With a report from PNA/PN)
