Police to ‘show force’ in Calbayog’s poll hot spots

NAVAL, Biliran, May 11  -- Top regional officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas will visit on Saturday the villages in Calbayog City to knock on doors of most wanted persons.

PNP Region 8 Director, Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz, will lead the so-called “show of force” with nearly 200 policemen and key police officials on his team.

Calbayog is historically known for election-related violence.

Among the villages in Calbayog under area of concern are Victoria, San Jose, Carayman, Ginbauyan Norte, and Catabunan.

“Our show of force is our message to criminals and those who want to distract the electoral process that the police is capable to stop them. We want to tell the public that we are ready. There’s a huge impact if we will go there as a team,” Cruz told Phillippine News Agency (PNA) on the sidelines of Biliran as drug-cleared province declaration.

Policemen will visit the known houses of 18 most wanted criminals in Calbayog with some of them were recruited as members of private armed groups in the past elections. “If we found these wanted persons, we will serve warrants of arrest.”

“We will assure the village officials in these areas that the police is here to secure the Election Day. We are ready and we are properly oriented,” Cruz said.

Two weeks ago, a candidate for village chief and his father was fatally shot in Catabunan village.

This is the second election-related incident confirmed by the PNP after the shooting of two village council members in Matuguinao, Samar.

Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10077, a village is labeled as an area of concern if it has a history of violent political rivalries. A community is tagged as an area of immediate concern if there are serious threats posed by the New People’s Army, private armed groups, and terrorists.

To ensure that the coming election will be less bloody, the PNP sent 180 policemen as augmentation force to Calbayog City to secure elections.

This is in addition to the 102 policemen and hundreds of soldiers assigned in the city.

Calbayog has earned the moniker "Killbayog" because of the number of election-related violence in the past national and local elections. Most victims are village officials and die-hard supporters of provincial and city officials.

Other Samar areas included in the watch list this year are Basey, Calbiga, Daram, Gandara, Hinabangan, Jiabong, Marabut, Motiong, Paranas, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Sta. Margarita and Talalora towns. (SQM/PNA)