DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, April 11 (PIA) -- A total of  1,829 uniformed personnel from the Philippine Army (PA)  and Philippine National Police (PNP) will be deployed to polling centers on May 9 to provide security on Election Day.

PLT. Catherine Ramos of PNP Negros Oriental said in a recent Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center (PJSCC) meeting that 447 security personnel will be deployed in the first district of the province, while around 473 will be deployed in the second district and 385 in the third district.

The meeting was attended by law enforcement and security officers and representativeds from the public schools and the Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB) of the Diocese of Dumaguete.

The deployment of police officers and security troops is incorporated in the PJSCC Security Plan which was signed by PNP and PA top officials in the province on April 1. 

PNP Negros Oriental Provincial Director PCol. Germano Mallari and Philippine Army 302nd Infantry Brigade Commanding Officer BGen. Leonardo Peña signed the security plan in the presence of Commission on Election (Comelec) Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano and DEB lead convener Msgr. Julius Heruela. 

“Ang inyong PNP is committed to ensure a peaceful and honest election. Among isiguro ninyo na ang tanan botante sa Negros Oriental makabotar. Ang inyong PNP will use its available resources, available personnel para ma-attain ang atong objective (Your PNP is committed to ensure a peaceful and honest election. We will make sure that all voters in Negros Oriental will be able to cast their vote. Your PNP will use its available resources and available personnel to reach this objective),” Mallari said.

He added that the security plan covers all areas including the security of the delivery and transport of the Vote Counting Machines (VCM) and other election paraphernalia.

“We have enough manpower combined between the PNP and the Armed Forces of Philippines. In fact, I have added one company coming from Negros Occidental which I augmented for the 11th Infantry Battalion,” Peña said.

For PNP’s part, Mallari said the Regional Police Office (PRO-7) has already deployed 60 additional personnel as augmentation force in the province and they were assigned in Bayawan City, Sta. Catalina, and Pamplona.

He added that more augmentation forces from the regional level will be cascaded in the province as Election Day draws near.

Meanwhile, Department of Education (DepEd) Negros Oriental Division Supt. Senen Paulin sought the assurance of law enforcement officials and from COMELEC on the safety of teachers who will serve during Election Day.

Castillano said the poll body will issue a proforma order directing any peace officer to come near enough the polling precinct

“Ato ning i-advise sa atong electoral board (na) pagsugod pa lang sa buntag, pag-open sa polling place, ihatag na nila katong order in writing ngadto sa pulis o kung kinsa peace officer naa diha for them to come near enough to be called. We will have that form na ihatag sa tanan electoral board (We will advise the electoral board to hand over the order to the police or to the peace officer assigned in the area as early as the start of the voting process, so that they will be able to come near enough to the polling place),” Castillano said.

In behalf of the law enforcement and security sector, Peña said the PNP and the AFP will do its best to protect the people, make them feel safe, and make sure they can vote on May 9. (RAL/ PIA7 Negros Oriental)