BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) is ready to assist local officials who may be concerned with their security.
Sixteen local chief executives (LCEs) in Negros Occidental received threats, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, NOCPPO spokesperson, said they are already verifying a threat received by an LCE who asked for additional security, while a risk assessment is being conducted for the rest of the local officials.
Catalogo advised local officials that they could also submit an application for security detail with the PRO-6’s Police Security Protection (PSPG).
If the PSPG cannot immediately approve their request, they can avail themselves of additional security personnel from their respective police station.
The move to provide additional security to LCEs and other local politicians came following the assassination of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo on March 4.
Politics is one of the many motives eyed in the Degamo slay.
In Negros Occidental, political rivalry has been brought down to the local level after the two major political groups in the province – Love Negros led by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and United Negros Alliance (UNegA) led by Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer – formed an alliance.
The political rivalry has not flared up seriously during last year’s polls./PN
