MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL (PIA)—Municipalities and cities in Misamis Occidental can expect increased police presence and heightened security as the 2022 national and local elections draw near.

Police Community Affairs and Development Unit Chief PLTCol Melfin Ian Burlat assured the public that local police are making all preparations necessary to ensure public safety throughout the entire election season during ‘Let’s Talk, MisOcc’ program, February 17.

Burlat said the PNP’s mandate is to preserve and protect the integrity of the 2022 national and local elections, and added that he is confident with the current capacity of PNP-MisOcc to keep peace and order within the province. However, he says that additional troops may be deployed depending on the situation in the province.

“Kung makita nato in the coming election nga kinahanglan pa gyud ug augmentation [troops], yes we will be [requesting them] para dili ma-compromise ang atong other police duties [focused on] peace and order, and criminality,” Burlat said.

(If we observe in the coming election that augmentation troops are needed, yes we will be requesting them so as not to compromise our other police duties focused on peace and order, and criminality)

A committee of local police officers and other agencies in MisOcc have already identified eight municipalities and one city to be ‘Orange Hotspots’ or areas of immediate concern. These areas include the municipalities of Aloran, Bonifacio, Calamba, Clarin, Don Victoriano Chiongbian, Jimenez, Sinacaban, Tudela, and the City of Tangub. A list of these nine election areas have been submitted to the COMELEC for review, Burlat said.

In December 2021, PNP recorded one shooting incident in Tangub City. PLTCol Burlat said an investigation into the matter is ongoing to determine whether it was an Election-related Incident (ERI).

He added that the Provincial Election Monitoring Action Center (PEMAC) in MisOcc will oversee police deployment and all election-related activities during the election period beginning January 9.

Burlat also said the release of KASIMBAYANAN which stands for ‘Kapulisan, Simbahan, at Pamayanan’ established a joint commitment between the PNP and all uniformed personnel, church leaders, and members of the community in ensuring the integrity, security, and fairness in the exercise of our right to vote.

In the advent of the 2022 elections, Burlat advised Misamisnons to be critical and vote wisely.

“We are appealing to every individual in Misamis Occidental to vote based on your conscience, on the integrity of our candidates, on your personal will, and most importantly voting based sa imong kasing-kasing ug sa imong huna-huna (on what’s on your hearts and
minds),” Burlat said. (GDA/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)