Security ready for poll watch group, precincts

C-Cimpel volunteers receive their SIM cards for the elections at the Archbishop’s Residence. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

Police assured a citizens’ election watch group of their security during the May 9 elections especially in identified election hotspots.

Supt. Arnel Banzon of the Police Regional Office’s (PRO-7) operations and plans division said they will secure volunteers of the Cebu Citizen Involvement and Maturation for People Empowerment and Liberation (C-Cimpel) during the polls.

“There is also an intelligence community aside from those policemen who will be deployed in the polling centers,” Banzon said.

Areas placed under election watch by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) are Bogo City, Medellin, San Fernando, San Francisco (Camotes), Tuburan, Camen, Dumanjug and Daanbantayan.

In yesterday’s final security briefing, Banzon said there will be two police officers to be designated in every polling center. Armed personnel and barangay officials will be assigned at least 50 meters away from the area.

Intelligence, community and police personnel will be designated in non-polling areas.

For police deployment, the Cebu Provincial Police Office has 1,424 personnel to be augmented by 388 personnel from the Armed Forces.

In Cebu province, there are 1,047 polling centers. For Cebu City, there are 825 personnel from PNP and 31 from the Armed Forces to secure 70 polling centers.

In Lapu-Lapu City, there are 366 police personnel and 70 troopers to secure 38 polling precincts.

In Mandaue City, there are 311 police personnel and 60 soldiers to safeguard 27 polling precincts.

Supt. Renato Malazarte, Cebu provincial police chief, said Cebu has been generally peaceful so far.

Marilu B. Chiongbian, C-Cimpel executive director said there will be 8,000 to 10,000 volunteers for this year’s election.