NCRPO says it’s ready for barangay, SK polls

By Jojo Arazas

09/27/2007

We are ready.

This was the pronouncement made yesterday by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) as to its preparedness with the holding of the simultaneous barangay elections and Sangguniang Kabataan next month.

In the same light, the NCRPO identified five “areas of immediate concern” in Metro Manila.

Supt. Rhodel Sermonia, NCRPO public information officer, told reporters at the weekly Fernandina Forum in Greenhills, San Juan City that based on their initial assessment, they are looking at depressed areas in Malabon City, Smokey Mountain, Tondo and Quiapo in Manila and Maharlika in Taguig City.

“We consider depressed areas in these cities as areas of immediate concern… we will have maximum police visibility and security during the barangay and SK elections period,” Sermonia said.

According to Sermonia, they have decided to include these areas as they have been monitoring them due to violent incidents in these slum areas involving lawless elements that occurred there.

“Various threat groups are expected to take advantage of the elections for financial gain as well as advance their organizational agenda by supporting their candidates in areas where they hold in advance to operate,” he said in their laid-down security measures.

Sermonia added the police are closely evaluating the security situation in these areas identified as election areas of concern so they can determine the need, and then exercise its authority of recommending the areas under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

He added they will coordinate with the concerned local government units to ensure that all election security measures will be efficiently implemented, noting they are able to render their duties to ensure that the electoral process in Metro Manila will be honest, orderly and peaceful.

The simultaneous elections will be held on Oct. 29.

“We will deploy teams that need to beef up their security forces to ensure orderly and peaceful elections tulad nung May 14 national elections,” Sermonia said.

Police will start implementing on Saturday, Sept. 29, the nationwide gun ban imposed by the Comelec.

During the gun ban period, all permits-to-carry firearms outside of the residence are suspended unless the holder has a written permission from the Comelec.

The gun ban covers all types of firearms such as air gun, side arms, long firearms and grenades.

Violators of the gun ban will be charged with violation of the Omnibus Election Code which carries a penalty of imprisonment of up to 17 years.

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006