Elections in EV generally peaceful – PRO8

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
May 14, 2013

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) assessed the synchronized conduct of the national and local midterm elections Monday as generally peaceful even in Samar province that was earlier listed as a “priority area” and placed under tight watch by security forces.

“People were able to cast their votes and exercised their rights of suffrage with a great feeling of security,” Soria said, adding that the high voters turn-out was a testament to the stable condition with no election-related incident reported on Election Day.

Soria attributed the generally peaceful situation to the advance preparations made by PRO8 to ensure secured and fair elections and the convergence of efforts with government agencies and security forces.

Since November last year, PRO8 have launched a massive crackdown against private armed group, most wanted persons, crime gangs, loose firearms and unregistered firearms which may be used to sow terror during the polling period.

Aside from focused police operations, the law enforcement official informed that PRO8 have brokered some 183 peace covenants signed by almost 3,500 political aspirants, in addition to unity walks, prayer rallies, peace caravans, candidates’ forum and massive media information campaign initiated to gain public support for fair and credible polls.

On Monday, police assistance desks were established in polling centers regionwide with close to 5,000 policemen that rendered election duties coupled by police visibility patrols by Reactionary Standby Support Force (PNP-RSSF) from the regional headquarters down to municipal level units.

Soria, however, said the police will not put its guards down even after the voting hours and canvassing is over as all police units under his watch will remain vigilant to ensure that all post-election activities will be safe and secured for all.

The region’s top cop earlier placed PRO8 on full alert status since May 6 until Friday, May 17.

Minor glitches in the operations of the precinct count optical scans (PCOS) machines were also reported by line units while a failure of elections was declared by the Comelec in Brgy. Higasaan, an upland village with 218 registered voters situated in Calbayog City’s “Seven Hills”, due to the absence of communication signal in the area and its distance which is a 12-hour hike through rugged terrains from the city proper.

As of Tuesday morning, a total of 159 persons have been arrested for violation of gun ban, the latest was the arrest of Avner San Andres, who was nabbed infront of a polling center in Brgy. Dawahon, Bato, Leyte for carrying a .45 caliber pistol with ammunitions on Monday morning.

A total of 131 assorted high-powered and low-powered firearms were confiscated in Eastern Visayas since January 13, Soria added.