Calbayog seeks more policemen to secure village polls

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Aug. 23 (PNA) -- The city government here will pass a resolution requesting the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office for an additional police troops to secure the upcoming village elections in remote areas here.

Mayor Ronaldo Aquino said there is an increasing concern about the city’s political stability as conflict erupts in some upland villages.

The village poll in October 2016 is expected to be closely contested, and it is potentially opening the door to violence, according to the mayor.

Calbayog City’s 157 villages are politically subdivided into three districts - Calbayog, Tinambacan and Oquendo.

“There has been a history of violence and conflicts being incited by some political parties here in previous elections,” Aquino said.

“Politics is politics. We cannot blame anyone. We all know that village elections is a litmus test for our young democracy,” Aquino stressed.

The conflict, which is happening as early as this month, according to Aquino, is very much driven by political maneuvering.

“We cannot wait out the storm. In our quest for peace, we feel the need of urgency. We’ve decided to pass a resolution to request for additional number of police forces here especially in our remote villages, so that we can stop violence,” Aquino said.

The Special Action Force and some police personnel deployed in the city last May 2016 National and Local Elections has been pulled out mid last month by the PNP regional office.

“Today’s village elections is really promising to people in Calbayog, who will stand better chances of being heard and influencing decisions that directly affect their everyday lives under improved democracy,” Aquino said.

And with the right support, according to Aquino, change will create space and an opportunity to city residents to really take development and poverty issues seriously and overcome the many challenges we are facing.

“I’m really proud of what Calbayog has achieved. We will not tolerate politicians who want to create chaos and panic as a way of campaigning for votes,” the mayor added. (PNA)
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