KALIBO, Aklan – No election hotspots and areas under the election watch list have been declared so far by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in this province.
Aklan provincial police director Senior Superintendent Lope Manlapaz said they listed no possible hotspots in the upcoming May 13, 2019 local and national elections here.
An election hotspot is an area with a history of intense political rivalries and election-related violence in the past.
Manlapaz said the round-the-clock checkpoint operations in strategic areas and police visibility have been intensified by the Philippine National Police (PNP), as well as the Philippine Army and the Comelec to ensure safe and orderly elections.
All individuals are prohibited from carrying and transporting deadly weapons, firearms and explosives during the election period and gun ban from Jan. 13 to June 12, 2019.
“Suporta at kooperasyon sa ating mga kapulisan ang kailangan. Hindi natin magagawa na mapanatili ang kaayusan at katahimikan ng buong Aklan kung walang suporta ang lahat,” Manlapaz added.
No violators of election gun ban have been caught yet, but personnel manning the checkpoints have already arrested a handful motorists and impounded their vehicles for violations of traffic rules.
PNP raised the security status nationwide under heightened alert following the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu on Jan. 27 that killed at least 20 people. (Akean Forum/PN)
