To ensure that no barangay in Cebu City will be included in the election watchlist, Councilor Dave Tumulak said they are working with the Commissions on Elections (Comelec) and the police to act on reports of security threats in the runup to and during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Tumulak’s pronouncements came a day after an armed and unidentified man was spotted looking for barangay officials in Calamba, Cebu City last April 17. Barangay Councilman Eldy Ygonia visited Tumulak’s office yesterday for help.
“We already notified Comelec – Cebu City through Atty. Anna Gujilde of the South District about this report. And we will meet with them to discuss the matter. We consider it as election-related since the incident occurred during the election period. Our aim here is to make sure that there will be no election hotspots in Cebu City,” said Tumulak, deputy mayor for police matters.
He said not one of the 80 barangays in Cebu City has been included in the PNP’s watchlist areas during the elections.
Ygonia told reporters in a press briefing yesterday that his neighbors reported to him that a masked man armed with a pistol looked for him and fellow barangay councilman Noel Bacalla.
“Ana tung baker nga nagtrabaho sa igsoon sa akong asawa, gitutukan daw siya. Nagtaptap to siya. Nangita daw siya nako (The baker who worked for my sister-in-law, was poked with a gun by the masked man. The man with the gun is wearing a bonnet. The baker said he was looking for me),” Ygonia said.
“Mao to nga gipa blotter nako sa police pagkahuman to siya nahitabo. Pero naa pa man gihapon koy madawatan sa mga silangan naa gihapoy mangita namo (That’s why I filed a blotter to the police after the incident happened. But I still receive reports from my neighbours that there are still some people looking for us),” he said.
The councilman also furnished Tumulak security camera footage showing the man speeding away on board a motorcycle at Barangay Calamba.