Talks defused tension

Except for a few complaints about harassment and the alleged presence of armed men in some areas, the barangay election last Monday was peaceful and successful.

“It was peaceful because of the strong collaboration of the agencies involved that helped monitor and maintain peace during the elections,” said Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr., deputy director for administration of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7).

Cerbo said there were no casualties from election-related violence and only 14 complaints reached his office although these are yet to be verified if these were actually related to the elections.

Senior Supt. Noli Romana, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said the cooperation and series of meetings with candidates helped in the peaceful conduct of the elections in the city.

“We tackle the issues with the candidates for clarification and I have seen their sincerity,” he added.

Romana said eight persons were apprehended for violating the liquor ban while 16 were arrested for violating the election gun ban and 18 firearms were seized.

On the other hand, Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), said it was a peaceful elections although they have to investigate an incident in Danao City where a man allegedly punched and pointed a gun at another person inside a polling place.

There were also reports about the presence of goons in some towns although these turned out to be negative.

During the election period, CPPO arrested 28 persons who violated the gun ban and confiscated 28 firearms. There were also three persons arrested in Madridejos town for violating the liquor ban.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, head of the Lapu-lapu City Police Office also reported that elections in his area of responsibility were peaceful.

Lapu-Lapu police arrested nine people , two of them minors, for gun ban violation a day before the election and confiscated five firearms and a hand grenade.

On election day, four people were also arrested for allegedly possessing guns while seven were arrested for violating the liquor ban.

Senior Supt. Petronelli Baldberin, chief of the Mandaue City police, revealed that a barangay tanod was arrested for carrying a gun a day before the elections and three others were arrested for violating the liquor ban.

In the whole of Region 7, 90 people were arrested for violating the gun ban and confiscated 66 firearms including 20 high powered ones during the election period. /Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag