The Negros Occidental Provincial Joint Security Control Center was activated Friday, August 25, to put in place strengthened security measures for the election period that starts Monday and ends on November 29.
The filing of the certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) will start Monday and end on September 2.
Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria, Provincial Police Director Col. Leo Pamittan and Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, led a provincial coordinating conference at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City to activate their security plan.
Joint Commission on Elections, Philippine National Police and Philippine Army checkpoints will be conducted provincewide starting Monday, Ananoria said.
The ban on the carrying of firearms or other deadly weapons in public places will also start on Monday, he said.
Pamittan said the checkpoint personnel will inspect all incoming and outgoing vehicles in every town and city of the province.
However, law enforcers will not be allowed to check contents of bags and open trunks of vehicles in compliance with the plain view doctrine, he said.
Pamittan said aside from the actual checkpoint area both ends of the road where it is located will have perimeter security and motorcycle cops to pursue vehicles that attempt to escape.
The checkpoints will be conducted simultaneously in every local government unit so it will be easy to catch fleeing vehicles, he said.
Ananoria said government employees who file COCs will be deemed automatically resigned.
He warned candidates against premature campaigning as the campaign period is set on October 19 to 28 yet.
It will be up to the management of media outlets to decide whether they will allow personnel running for BSKE posts to continue working. However, the COMELEC will monitor mediamen running for office to ensure that they do not use their media outlets to campaign, Ananoria said.
He said candidates should ensure that their COCs are properly filled up, signed, notarized with documentary stamps and their photos attached.*