The first batch of augmentation forces from the Philippine National Police (PNP) that will assist in disaster response and perform election duties arrived in Negros Oriental during the weekend, an official said on Monday, Feb. 3.
Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), said 200 officers arrived over the weekend at Camp Fernandez in Sibulan town and were presented to the visiting Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, director of Police Regional Office-Central Visayas.
One hundred came from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion while the other 100 were from three cities of Cebu province.
Polinar said half of the additional cops will be assigned to Canlaon City “to assist in disaster relief operations and in preparation for a possible Alert Level 4 scenario.”
Alert Level 4 is expected in the event of a major eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, where majority, if not all, of Canlaon City residents will be evacuated.
“The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office had requested for additional police personnel in anticipation of evacuees to be spread out in the towns and cities in the first district with this scenario,” Polinar said.
The other 100 will be deployed to different police stations and assist in Commission on Elections’ checkpoints to ensure peace and order leading to the May 12 polls, Polinar added.
Maranan ordered the cops “to enhance police presence in the streets” and “to increase the quick response time in responding to incidents.”
He also directed enhanced operations against private armed groups, illegal drugs and criminal gangs, Polinar said.*PNA
***Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano of the Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region, said no additional forces have been sent to Negros Occidental by the Region 6 PNP.
The police in Negros Occidental can still handle the situation in their area, Castillano said.
Castillano said he is meeting the election officers in areas affected by Kanlaon Volcano on Wednesday, Jan. 5, to remind them to have their election contingency plans in place in case of an eruption.
Not all have finalized their contingency plans, he said.*