DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Feb. 17 (PIA) -- The Philippine National Police Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (PNP NOrPPO) will engage church leaders and community stakeholders in an activity dubbed “Kasimbayanan” to strengthen the partnership between the law enforcement agency and the community in ensuring a safe and secure conduct of elections this May.

This was disclosed by PNP Provincial Community Affairs and Development Unit (PCADU) Chief Police Lt. Col. Ruben Verbo in a Kapihan sa PIA forum on Feb. 15 where he gave updates on their preparations for the national and local elections on May 9. 

"Kasimbayanan" stands for Kapulisan, Simbahan, at Pamayanan (police, church, and the community) and this will be carried out through a multi-sectoral forum to be spearheaded by the PNP.

“The citizen’s arm, ang atoang simbahan, dako kaayo siya ikatabang sa atoang mga kandidato na usahay moinit. Ang makapabugnaw ra gyud ang atoang mga lider sa simbahan (The church has a big role to play. Our church leaders can help cool down intense rivalry among political aspirants),” Verbo said.

PNP will also organize a “Ride for a Cause” to promote this advocacy and join in the covenant signing for a peaceful elections on March 18 organized by the Diocesan Electoral Board of the Diocese of Dumaguete.

Verbo also highlighted the importance of community involvement in the conduct of clean and secure elections.

He urged the public to report incidents of election violations to the authorities. 

“Hopefully, magtinabangay ta (let's help each other). Karon panahuna (Nowadays), text or just use your cellphone. Naa tay mga hotline number sa atoang station, sa atoang provincial level hotline numbers, and also sa social media. (We have hotline numbers for our stations at the provincial level and also on social media.) We are (using) Viber and messenger as communication platforms to really have a quick flow of communication," he added.

For security preparations, Verbo said the Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Conference with the Armed Forces of the Philippines have already been activated and convened four times. 

Law enforcement agencies are also monitoring the situation in the barangays that could potentially become election hotspots. 

In the previous elections, there were 216 barangays in the province identified as Election Watchlist Areas.  (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)