Stronger AFP, PNP presence in rebel-affected areas on Election Day

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 8): Stronger AFP, PNP presence in rebel-affected areas on Election Day

The Davao City Police Office is planning to augment the number of police and soldiers in three districts of the city under the election-watch list to guarantee that the residents will cast their votes despite the presence of the rebels.

Speaking in the Monday’s Kapihan sa SM, Senior Superintendent Ronald de la Rosa, director of the DCPO said the presence of both the police and soldiers will be maximized in the countryside so that the residents will participate in the political exercise.

He projected a relatively peaceful conduct of elections in the city proper because of the absence of intense rivalry among local politicians.

“We will double our presence in the barangays so that the residents will feel secure and comfortable in going out and casting their votes given the presence of soldiers and policemen in their locality,” De la Rosa said.

He said the DCPO will seek support from the Police Regional Office XI and the soldiers in the areas of concern for more warm bodies to guard the periphery of the police precincts within the 50-meter radius.

De la Rosa said the DCPO alone has 1,360 policemen to be deployed during the elections.

“The Joint Election Security Coordinating Committee is meeting every now and then to thresh out all peace and order concerns,” he said.

He said that the local police are more concerned on the areas where there are known presence of the rebels given their propensity to conduct harassment to catch attention in order for businessmen and politicians to give in to their extortion and permit to campaign and to win fees, respectively.

De la Rosa said 10 barangays within the three districts classified under the election watch list include Barangays Mapula, Lumiad, Panialum, Malabog and Paradise Embac in Paquibato District; Barangays Malamba and Tamugan in Marilog District; and Barangays Carmen, Tambobong and Tawan-tawan in Baguio District.

“All in all, we have ten barangays in the city placed under the election-watch list for the May 2013 elections because of the presence of the rebels,” De la Rosa said.

He said mere presence of the rebels brandishing their firearms is enough to instil fear among the residents not to go out and to cast their votes, consequently leading to a failure of elections.

De la Rosa also affirmed that the latest burning of two heavy equipment at the diversion road two weeks ago, was an offshoot of an extortion by the rebels on a construction firm which did not yield to their demand for a sum of money.

He said that even politicians are vulnerable to extortion, even with the absence of any complaint from them about being disturbed by the mulcting activities of the rebels.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2381365401817