Election Related Violence
The Philippines have a long standing history of election related violence during the days around the polls, be it local or national elections. Areas that have had intense political rivalries in the past and have experienced politically motivated violence are being kept under watch by the country’s police force.
The PNP has released today the list of the areas that are prone to a sudden violent or aggressive situation in the upcoming May 9 election. Though it is expected that places with militant group activity will be present in this list, highly urbanized cities are also front-runners. Chief Superintendent Ronald Estilles of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said,
“Based on our reports, as the elections come nearer, there are a lot incidents like explosions or bombing or IEDs, we do not know if this is election-related, but it’s very notable that when the election is fast approaching there are a lot of incidents like that”.
Negros Oriental on the list of Places Prone to Election-Related Violence
With the rising number of cases reported of local office candidates being ambushed as they head on to their sorties, the PNP has made sure to increase their presence in hot spots identified with having a high potential of election related violence from occurring. Some of the areas being closely monitored by the national police or the Election Watchlist Areas (EWA) include Lanao del Sur, Negros Oriental, Masbate, Pangasinan, Abra, Neuva Ecija, Maguindanao and Western Samar.
Election related violence Hot-Spots in Negros Oriental
In Negros Island alone, eight Eight election hot spots and 4 areas of concern have been identified. The 2.5 million voter rich area have been sent additional armed forces to ensure the security and uphold peace as the election drags along. The areas identified were the cities of Guihulngan, Canlaon, and Bais and the towns of La Libertad, Siaton, Tanjay, Pamplona and Sta. Catalina.
The country’s military have been on stand-by and has also expressed their readiness to extend their support to the police should the need arise.
Negros Island Region Deployed with Almost 5,000 Cops and Soldiers
About 5,000 police and soldiers and around 700 augmentation forces has set off to Negros Occidental last Thursday to watch over the nearing May 9 elections.
Chief Superintendent Conrado Capa, director of the Police Regional Office in Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said that the police have been intensely briefed about their responsibilities and duties during the elections, and have even asked his men to “protect the election with their lives”. “There is no reason to fail,” he said.
“On May 9, we have to endure hunger, endure the heat, endure sickness because the nation expects no less and so, beforehand, I would like to congratulate every one for the sacrifices,” Capa said. “Let us give Negros Occidental safe, fair, and peaceful elections.”
The police have mandated and set up daily and nightly check points to strictly impose the Commission on Election’s gun ban. With a background of politically motivated violence rampant within the region, it is important that these armed men who swore to protect and secure the safety of the country are highly visible to give the citizens the feeling of a blanket of security.
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