WITH last Sunday’s official start of the election period, several requests for security detail were received from candidates, the Commission on Elections in Central Visayas (Comelec-7) said yesterday.
Cebu city police also made their first few arrests of violators of the election gun ban.
Comelec-7 Regional Director Temie Lambino said six politicians from Negros Oriental filed requests.
There were no requests from Cebu officials or candidates yet, he added.
All police escorts from incumbent officials were pulled out due to a Comelec resolution recalling all police bodyguards.
Lambino said requests for security escorts should be processed by the Regional Joint Security Control Center. Final approval is granted by the Comelec in Manila.
Lambino said the Comelec can allow temporary security escorts for one month.
Those wishing to apply for security escort permits have to pay a P5,000 non-refundable processing fee.
The amount will be deposited in the Comelec account with the Land Bank of the Philippines.
The receipt will have to be attached to the application form while the applicant will be asked for the names of their preferred security officers.
Applications for permanent security escorts will have to be coursed through the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP) in Manila.
Among the violators arrested at the start of the gun ban was 41-year-old Segundo Baya of Tigbao Calatrava in Negros Occidental.
He was flagged down by Cebu City police along C. Padilla St., barangay San Nicolas proper in Cebu City at 10 a.m. last Sunday.
Confiscated from his possession was one .38 revolver stored in the utility box his motorcycle.
Baya failed to present any papers.
Another violator, Jose Quinan of barangay Sabang, Danao City, was arrested in an eatery in barangay Magay, Compostela in northern Cebu at past 10 a.m. yesterday.
Quinain was also served an arrest warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court presiding Judge Jerry Dicdican dated Dec. 5.
He was linked to a robbery incident in Danao City last year. Correspondents Chito Aragon, Tweeny Malinao and Joy Cherry S. Quito