Security agencies to further study areas that need more attention ahead of May polls

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 14 (PNA) - The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army will conduct a workshop to identify areas that need additional security personnel in preparation for the May 9, 2016 elections.

According to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros, the formulation of a security plan was agreed during the first regional joint security control center (RJSCC) conference on January 8.

The workshop seeks to come up with a consensus as to the deployment of police and military personnel in the region relative to the conduct of elections.

The RJSCC has tagged 44 towns as watch list based on the history of previous elections, the incidents involved, and the candidates involved.

Election period started January 10 and will end on June 8. Campaign period for president, vice president, senators and party list starts on February 9 until May 7. Local candidates’ campaign period starts on March 25 until May 7.

The police and army as deputized security personnel of Comelec during elections are mandated to help the poll body in ensuring honest, peaceful and orderly conduct of elections.

Authorities started to intensify their campaign of gun ban by putting up check points in the different entry and exit points in the region. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR

Region 8 police, army draft 2016 polls security plan

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) – Law enforcement agencies in Eastern Visayas will come up with consolidated security plans to step up preparations for the upcoming May 9 elections.

Lawyer Jose Nick Mendros, Comelec regional director said the plan will be finalized before the campaign period of candidates for national positions on Feb. 9.

“The possible scenario is that the election will be peaceful and we are working hard to achieve that, but we are planning for the worst,” Mendros said.

The Comelec will deputize the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections this year.

The joint security plan, which is based on possible scenarios, will be the basis for the deployment of the army and police to secure the board of election inspectors and voting centers.

Col. Cesar Idio, Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division assistant commander said the military has already drafted their own security plan, but it has to be consolidated with the police.

“Our plan makes sure that the elections will be peaceful, free from violence, and that the people are secured in exercising their rights without intimidation, force, pressure or any violent act, which violate their free will,” Idio said.

Police Regional Director Jose Erwin Villacorte has directed all personnel last week to come up with provincial security plans in consultation with local election officers.

“Setting up checkpoints is just one of the strategies. We need to coordinate our efforts to accomplish other tasks such as dismantling private armies and lawless elements,” Villacorte said.

The Comelec, PNP and the Army recently activated the joint security control centers (JSCC) in the regional, provincial and city levels.

The JSCC, chaired by Comelec, craft and implement a strategy to address all election-related security issues and concerns peculiar to an area.

The joint group is primarily tasked to formulate and implement a plan for “intensified law enforcement and security operations to thwart nefarious activities of criminals targeting loose firearms with threat groups and neutralize private armed groups within respective jurisdiction.”

They are also mandated to accept and process all applications for security detail by candidates for the House of Representatives and local candidates and provide temporary security detail to the concerned applicants for a maximum period of 30 days. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO