More cops, troopers headed to C. Visayas

CEBU CITY—More policemen and soldiers would be deployed to 29 towns and cities in Central Visayas, which have been declared election hotspots because they had a history of election violence.

Of the 29 hotspots, seven are in the province of Cebu—the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Danao as well as the municipalities of Ronda, San Fernando and Tuburan.

Except for Tuburan, all hotspots in Cebu were classified as yellow areas, which meant the places had previous election-related cases of violence and were known for intense political rivalries, said Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, director of the Central Visayas police.

Tuburan was categorized as an orange area because of armed threats.

No red

No area in Central Visayas was categorized as red, however, the highest level of risk classification.

“The basis of this watch list is history,” Sinas said in an interview.

He said the list was also recommended by the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Commission on Elections (Comelec), Sinas added.

Government agencies held a coordinating conference at Camp Sergio Osmeña, headquarters of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas based in Cebu City, to discuss security preparations for the May 13, 2019, elections.

Rafael Olaño, Comelec director for Central Visayas, said the election gun ban would take effect on Jan. 30 while police bodyguards of politicians would also be recalled on the same day.

Exemptions

“Anyone who wants to be exempted from the gun ban can submit their applications now. Those who will qualify can be exempted,” he said.

Of 29 towns and cities in Central Visayas, which were declared hotspots, 10 were from Negros Occidental, six from Bohol and six from Siquijor.

All the areas of concern in Negros Oriental were in the orange category.

These are the cities of Guihulngan, Bais, Siaton and Canlaon and the towns of Ayungon, Mabinay, Tayasan, Sta. Catalina and Zamboanguita.

In the yellow category in Bohol province were Buenavista, Clarin, Danao and Pilar towns.