By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) confirmed yesterday that a local chief executive (LCE) in the province had received threats.

NOCPPO spokesperson, Police Captain Judesses Catalogo refused to name the LCE.

He would leave it to the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) of the Philippine National Police to identify the local official.

This comes amid calls to ramp up security among LCEs following the assassination of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo earlier this month.

The said LCE has already tapped the PSPG for additional security.

However, Catalogo said that a threat assessment on the LCE will be conducted first before the police protection group approves the request.

The official is being guarded by personnel provided by the NOCPPO while waiting for the assessment.

Based on initial information, Catalogo said that the LCE’s threat came from communist-terrorist groups, and not from a rival political personality or group.

At present, Catalogo said they are not monitoring any intense political rivalry in Negros Occidental.

LCEs may avail of additional security protection from the PSPG at the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas headquarters at Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City.

“Tanan nga LCEs without threat or may ara threat, gin-dugangan naton [ang aton personnel]. Ginpa-intense pa gid ang ila security to ensure their safety,” Catalogo said.

In Negros Occidental, the political rivalry among officials has been brought down to the local level after the two major political groups in the province — Love Negros, led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson; and the United Negros Alliance, led by Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer — made an alliance with another.

The political rivalry on the local scene has not even flared up during last year’s national and local elections./DGB, WDJ