Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) personnel
CEBU CITY, Philippines – More than 22,000 policemen have already been deployed to strategic areas in the region to secure the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, the PRO-7 said.
The Barangay and SK polls will be held simultaneously on October 30.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) director Police Brigadier General Anthony Aberin, said that with the elections drawing nearer, their preparations are relentless.
According to Pelare, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has currently deployed a total of 22,069 police personnel tasked to ensure a peaceful and orderly election period in the region.
More deployments, he said, are expected in the coming days.
“Subsob na atong operasyon. Kita ninyo daghan na tang mga meetings nga gi-conduct between and among COMELEC, PNP, AFP, and Philippine Coast Guard,” he said.
Pelare stated that during the beginning of the filing of certificates of candidacy on August 28, 2023, the police also conducted COMELEC checkpoints in various areas all over the region.
Since the start of the gun ban, there has been a total of 107,875 checkpoints conducted in strategic locations in Central Visayas, according to Pelare.
He disclosed that during checkpoints, they apprehended several individuals and recovered a total of 37 illegal firearms.
This is in violation of the gun ban implemented for the election which started on August 28 and will end on November 29, coinciding with the election period of the BSKE 2023.
Watchlist areas
Pelare added that they are also closely monitoring election watchlist areas.
“Ang atong evaluation sa election watchlist areas, nagpabilin. Iupdate na siya on a regular basis para mao nay makatabang nato sa pagdeploy unya sa mga tawo,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pelare added that there is no decision yet on the possible postponement of the BSKE in the Negros Oriental province this year.
However, he said that they are prepared for whatever the COMELEC decides as they have two contingency plans prepared for the security coverage in the province.
P9.3 million illegal drugs seized in 2-day Sacleo
On the other hand, Pelare relayed to reporters that a total of P9,352,040 worth of suspected illegal drugs were confiscated by the PRO-7 during a two-day Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO).
He said that from September 7 to September 8, the police recovered around 1,375 grams of illegal drugs.
On Thursday, September 7, an individual identified as Manuel Ace Delgado Causing was arrested with around 1,300 grams of suspected shabu which has a Standard Drug Price (SDP) of P8,840,000.
He was arrested in Barangay Poblacion, Pardo, Cebu City during a buy-bust operation.
On the same day, Glen Dihayco Amante, was caught with 70.30 grams of illegal drugs worth around P478,040 in Barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City.
And on Wednesday, September 8, a man named John Lemuel Bensulan, was arrested in Barangay San Roque, Talisay City.
Police seized from Bensulan 5 grams of illegal drugs worth around P34,000.
Young drug personalities
Pelare said that arrests like these have resulted in a decrease in crime incidents in the area and that even if there are still some left in the streets, the police are in the right direction to prevent the situation from worsening.
According to Pelare, the fact that many of the persons getting caught for alleged involvement with illegal drugs recently are young individuals is not new to them.
He added that in the past, there have been instances wherein minors were used in drug transactions.
However, he assured that the PRO-7 is always ready to deal with this kind of strategy by criminals.
“We are ready for this strategy. Nya magpabilin nga aggressive ug strategic ang atong operations,” he said. /rcg
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