The Philippine National Police has gone on full alert and is fielding more than 1,700 policemen to secure the May 12 elections in Negros Occidental.
So far the campaign period has been peaceful with no complaints lodged by the 731 candidates in the province, Capt. Judesses Catalogo, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office spokesperson, said at a press conference on Friday, April 25.
There have been no reports of intense political rivalry in the province although the situation could heat up closer to the polls, he said.
There are no private armed groups in Negros Occidental, Catologo also said.
Negros Occidental has 2,014,000 voters. It is ranked number six among the provinces in the country with the most number of voters, Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said.
Ananoria said to prevent vote buying and selling, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will impose a “money ban” that prohibits carrying, possessing, and transporting P500,000 close to the elections.
The Negros Occidental police are on alert for the upcoming polls and all leaves have been cancelled, Catologo said.
The NOCPPO aims to deploy two policemen per precinct.
Quick Reaction Teams will also be deployed to secure the transport of election paraphernalia and automated counting machines, Catologo said.
The Philippine Army will be deployed to secure voting centers in remote areas, Catalogo said.
Meanwhile, the 2,048 automated counting machines for Negros Occidental have arrived, which include extra ACMs to serve as backup units, Ananoria said.
The ACMs will be delivered to the towns and cities of Negros Occidental on Monday and Tuesday, April 28 and 29, and their final testing and sealing will be on March 7, he said.
The ballots will arrive on May 1 or 2, he said.*