230 cops to be sent to Samar to ensure peaceful polls in May
TACLOBAN CITY – At least 230 policemen will be deployed in Samar province to ensure peaceful and orderly elections in May.
Brigadier Gen. Bernard Banac, the director for the Eastern Visayas region, said the police would be sent beginning March 1. They would stay there until after the election period.
“We will deploy an additional number of policemen in Samar just to ensure that the conduct of the national and local elections will be safe, orderly, and peaceful,” he said.
“So as much as possible, we don’t want any untoward incident to take place between now and until the election period is over,” Banac added.
According to the regional police director, the additional police force, who would come from the regional headquarters, would help prevent possible untoward incidents.
Banac said they would support any peace initiatives or covenants among candidates and other stakeholders in Samar and the rest of the region.