Police tags 44 Eastern Visayas towns as election watchlist

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 11 (PNA) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has tagged 44 towns in Eastern Visayas as election watchlist areas in relation to the May 9 elections.

In the list of areas of concern list are 15 towns in Samar, 12 towns in Leyte, nine in Northern Samar, seven in Eastern Samar, and one in Biliran.

Sr. Supt. Brigido Unay, chief of the police regional intelligence division, said these places of concern have been consistently included in the past elections.

“These have been categorized as areas of concern because of past and recent election-related violence, presence of private armed groups, intense political rivalry and insurgency problem,” Unay said.

Calbayog City and all towns within the first legislative district of Samar are included in the areas of concern. These are Almagro, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Santa Margarita, Santo Niño, Tagapul-an, Tarangnan.

Outside Samar’s first district identified in the watch list are Hinabangan, Paranas, Pinabacdao, San Jose de Buan, and Tarangnan.

The police official declined to disclose the specific areas in Leyte, Biliran, Northern Samar and Eastern included in the watch list for 2016 polls, but he said the list are the same in 2013.

Listed as hotspots in the last elections are Baybay and Ormoc cities and the towns of Bato, Inopacan, Kananga, Matag-ob, Tabango, San Miguel, Albuera, Burauen, Carigara, and Jaro in Leyte.

In Eastern Samar, these areas are Arteche, Taft, Can-avid, Dolores, Hernani, General MacArthur, Jipapad and Quinapondan.

In Northern Samar, these places are Bobon, Catubig, Mapanas, Mondragon, Palapag, San Isidro, Gamay, Las Navas, Lavezares, Lope de Vega, Pambujan, Capul and Victoria. The only town in Biliran province tagged as watchlist in the past elections was Kawayan.

Only the Southern Leyte province was not included in the police areas of concern this year.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros said there will be more deployment of police in these areas to ensure peaceful, orderly, and honest elections.

“More intensified checkpoints will be implemented in these areas to help prevent the occurrence of election-related violence,” Mendros added.

The Comelec, PNP, and the Philippine Army has stepped up security measures for the May 9, 2016 polls with the election period kick off on Sunday. (PNA)
FFC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

New Region 8 top cop vows peaceful, fair 2016 polls

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 7 (PNA) - The newly appointed regional chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas vowed to work for peaceful and fair elections in the region.

During the assumption of command ceremony, Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte said neutralizing private armies and lawless elements that would threat the 2016 polls is his top priority.

Villacorte, the new officer-in-charge of the PNP regional office, said they will coordinate with all stakeholders to step up security preparations for the upcoming polls.

“Elections is fast approaching, we want a peaceful and fair elections. Community partnership, improving our coordination with local government units, and working closely with government agencies is necessary in order for us to move forward in a faster pace,” Villacorte said.

“You will see more checkpoints, more proactive operations against private armies and those illegally carrying firearms,” Villacorte told reporters in a brief media interview.

He convened all top police regional officials and provincial police chiefs in a command conference immediately after his assumption at the regional headquarters in Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Palo, Leyte.

Villacorte is formerly the deputy director for administration of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

The Eastern Visayas police regional office was his first assignment in his police service in 1983.

The official replaced police deputy regional director for administration Chief Supt. Cedrick Train, who has been the officer-in-charge of the field office here since October after the dismissal of Sr. Supt. Asher Dolina.

Dolina and other 19 top police officials was dismissed for their involvement in the anomalous procurement of police rubber boats worth PHP4.54 million in 2009. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO & LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA

Region 8 police burns seized firecrackers

PALO, Leyte, Dec. 28 (PNA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas has burned on Monday the confiscated illegal firecrackers from various police field offices worth more than PHP209,000.

Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Cedrick Train led the disposal at the grandstand of police regional office in this town.

The burning of confiscated firecracker is in line with national government’s campaign to achieve zero firecracker related injuries in the country in relation to Christmas and New Year’s revelries.

Train said that the firecrackers had been confiscated through a search warrant served by Task Force “Paputok.” One of those with search warrant is businessman Frederick Fernandez Dy of Calbiga, Samar.

Among the firecrackers disposed were lolo thunder, super lolo, five star, sawa rambo special, plapla and piccolo.

“We don’t want anyone to get hurt while we celebrate a very happy occasion. We are appealing to the public, especially to children to avoid using firecrackers,” said Train.

He also directed all police units to operate against vendors of illegal firecrackers or fireworks and assured that they will work hand-in-hand with other government agencies to achieve their goal of zero-firecracker related injuries.

Operation against illegal firecracker vendors will go on until January 3, according to Train.

He also urged civilian gun owners to be responsible this Yuletide celebration by not using their gun to avoid accidents and loss of lives.

The police, army and other law enforcers in the region has conducted gun muzzle taping, in line with the efforts against illegal discharge of firearms this holiday season. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA