Police says Eastern Visayas polls generally peaceful

TACLOBAN CITY, May 9 (PNA) -- The conduct of elections in Eastern Visayas was generally peaceful when voting closed late Monday afternoon, the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here reported.

Except for a shooting incident that injured a mayoralty bet in San Jorge, Samar Monday dawn, no other violence were reported by police field offices as 5:30 p.m., according to PNP regional office spokesperson Chief Insp. Ma. Bella Rentuaya.

“We have beefed up all security measures to ensure peaceful and orderly elections in the region. There was no failure of elections in any part of the region. Candidates and voters have done their parts to prevent violence,” Rentuaya said.

Field offices have not reported any commotion inside voting precincts. The most common problems in the region are malfunctions of vote counting machines and confusion on the voter’s list.

The police recorded the first election-related incident at 4:45 a.m. on Monday when motorcycle-riding gunmen shot Councilor Lester Bisnar, 48, the Nacionalista Party candidate for mayor, and his aide Noel Jabollin, 37. The victims suffered gunshot wounds in their legs.

With the help of civilians, the police arrested three suspects, including a son of Bisnar’s rival and a village chief.

“We are happy that people cooperated with the police and volunteered as eyewitnesses,” Rentuaya added.

The police believed that operations contributed to peaceful polls.

On Monday morning, the police confiscated high powered firearms in Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte.

A day before elections, nine persons were arrested for illegal position of firearms in Babatngon, Leyte and San Vicente, Northern Samar.

More than 2.69 million voters in the region trooped to 5,754 voting centers on Monday to exercise their rights to vote. (PNA)
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