THE police chief in Sogod town in northern Cebu has denied allegations that his men render “bodyguard” duties to reelectionist Mayor Lissa Marie Durano-Streegan during her barangay visits.
Senior Inspector Arvi Arbuis, town police chief, told Cebu Daily News that the police remain neutral and were merely doing their job to secure the barangays whenever there are political activities regardless of which party is organizing these.
“During any political engagements, we conduct roving operations to secure area. During these events, there is an expected number of people and, as police officers, we have to provide perimeter security for their safety,” he said.
Arbuis said SPO3 Ulyses Armecin, who was accused of being a close-in security of Streegan during her campaign sorties, is not allied with any political candidate.
He said the police would also provide security whenever mayoralty candidate Dean Dosado has engagements in the barangays.
Arbuis noted that Dosado, who had asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate Streegan for allegedly bringing policemen and Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) members in her barangay visits, has filed multiple complaints before the local police.
“Daghan na siya nga reklamo diri sa among station. Igo ra pod mi mupasabot. Ako mismo, against ko anang mag-escort og mga kandidato kay kahibaw mi unsa ang guidance sa Comelec (He has filed several complaints. We just explained to him. I am against police escorting political candidates because we know what the Comelec guidelines are),” Arbuis told CDN.
He said that last April 5, a retired police chief also visited their office asking for the duty details of Sogod police officers, especially Armecin. On the same day, Dosado filed his letter request for investigation before the Comelec.
Senior Supt. Clifford Gairanod, Cebu provincial police chief, said he has not received a report on the allegations of policemen escorting Streegan.
“We can deploy our men if there are programs, political or even religious gatherings, we have to also maintain peace and order but with the escorting issues, we still have to verify on that,” said Gairanod.
As per the Comelec guidelines, candidates and incumbent officials are not allowed to employ armed security guards unless they have secured a gun ban exemption for the Jan. 6 to June 8 period, in line with the May 9 national and local elections.
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