BACOLOD City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental assured residents there will be no curfew in the province ahead of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) on Monday, Oct. 30.
This came after the Special Task Force Negros Oriental passed a resolution on Wednesday imposing a province-wide curfew two days before the BSKE to avert violence and prevent vote buying.
Negros Oriental has been placed under Comelec control due to the province’s history of intense and deadly political rivalry.
Provincial elections supervisor, Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, meanwhile, confirmed liquor ban will be imposed in Negros Occidental a day before the polls.
With regards to the three barangays that fall under the “red” category, or areas of grave concern, Ananoria said they have not been placed under Comelec control.
The military and police, however, tightened their monitoring in the said areas to discourage those who are planning to disrupt the polls and to keep the peace between the rival political parties.
Some 5,684 security personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army (PA) and other law enforcement units will secure the polls in Negros Occidental, including its capital city, on Monday.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) and the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) yesterday held separate sendoff rites for their respective forces at the two police headquarters here.
NOCPPO director Colonel Leo Pamittan assured Negrenses they can vote securely on election day.
“We’re good to go. We’re ready for Monday’s elections. All the polling precincts will be manned. We assure the public that the conduct of the elections will be secured,” he said. (Watchmen Daily Journal/with a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
