974 more cops sent to Bicol to thwart possible poll-related violence

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — The Philippine National Police in Bicol has deployed nearly a thousand additional policemen in areas tagged “hot spots” in the the region to thwart possible violence during the barangay (village) polls on October 28.

Bicol police director Chief Superintendent Victor Deona said 974 additional policemen were deployed across Bicol, a third of which was sent to Masbate, the most watched province in the region due to intense political rivalries, past election-related violence and intervention from local political leaders in the supposedly nonpartisan barangay elections.

The additional policemen were distributed as follows: Masbate, 300; Sorsogon, 150; Catanduanes, 139; Naga City, 100, and Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, 95 each.

Deona, who was commander of Task Force Masbate during the 2010 national elections, has succeeded in defusing tension in Masbate.

He said he would reintroduce in Bicol the same police election security strategy in Masbate that resulted in the confiscation and surrender of hundreds of low- and high-powered firearms and explosive devices, and the arrest of several members of political armed groups employed by local politicians to gain advantage over their rivals.

He said among the effective measures were the setting up of mobile checkpoints, deployment of additional police forces in every town and enforcement of “Oplan Bakal,” or the campaign against the carrying of guns outside one’s residence.