Sinas: First six hours of midterm election was generally peaceful

A motorcycle owned by  former Paril barangay tanod Anever Enriquez caught fire at around 8 a.m. today, May 13, while parked outside of his residence in Sitio Kantisang. /CDN Digital File Photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The first six-hours of the May 13 midterm elections was generally peaceful, said Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7).

Except for the gun bursts that were heard in the mountain barangays of Sudlong 1 and 2 in Cebu City late night on Sunday and the burning of a former barangay tanod’s motorcycle in Sitio Kantisang, Barangay Paril early this morning, Sinas said they have not received of any election-related incidences since the opening of the voting centers in Cebu at 6 a.m. today.

Still, Sinas reminded the police not to vacate their posts until after the election is over.

“The police have already been detailed for 48-hours, starting yesterday (Sunday) until the end of the election,” said Sinas.

Sinas held a press conference at the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC) located inside the PRO-7 compound this afternoon to give reporters a midday assessment on the conduct of the midterm election.

In the provinces of Bohol and Negros Occidental, one person was killed while another was injured in separate shooting incidences during the weekend.

Jobencio Ade of Barangay Albiga, Siaton, Negros Oriental was killed after he tried to fire shots at the policemen who responded to call for help after he went wild because of his drunkenness, Sunday dawn.

In Barangay Tangcasan Norte, Loay in Bohol province, a supporter of a mayoral candidate, who was identified as a certain Lucas Wate, was shot by still unidentified suspects who were onboard a black SUV past 1 a.m. today, May 13, while his companion was allegedly mauled by the suspects.

Sinas said that they are yet to determine if the two incidences were election-related. /dcb