At least 100 more policemen will be sent to Samar, one of the areas tagged as an election hot spot in Eastern Visayas.
Senior Superintendent Roel Acidre, head of police and community relations of the regional police, said the deployment of more policemen would help in the campaign to keep elections in the province peaceful.
The election period is from January 13 to June 12.
Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas classified Samar as an election hot spot due to the province’s record in election-related violence and the presence of private armed groups and communist guerrillas.
The province has 481,275 registered voters. It is the second most vote-rich province in Eastern Visayas next to Leyte, which has at least a million voters.
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said declaring Samar as a hot spot would be favorable to the province.
Tan is seeking a second term against Rosa Jessica Delgado, daughter of slain Calbayog Mayor Reynaldo Uy, a political rival of Tan. Delgado is a Liberal Party candidate. Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas