By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) will convene to discuss security plans for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) next month.

The RJSCC conference, scheduled on September 21, will be participated by officials from the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec-Negros Occidental elections supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said the meeting would focus on the security measures in several election watchlist areas (EWAs).

Ananoria said the military has already recommended the declaration of certain election hotspot areas within the region.

The military had previously identified 55 villages in Negros Occidental that will be included as possible EWAs.

Most of these villages are located in the mountainous parts of the province.

The EWA tag was due to the presence of armed communist insurgents of the New People’s Army in the area.

Meanwhile, Ananoria said they do not have a specific complaint desk to accommodate reports about the possible vote buying incidents.

However, complaints can be directly filed with the local election officers.

The local poll body also has a hotline to accommodate reports on vote buying.

Earlier, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) said a total of 1,400 personnel will oversee the security of BSKE in the province.

NOCPPO relieved and temporarily transferred a city police chief and 268 police non-commissioned officers in preparation for the polls in October.

The relieved police officers are expected to return to their previous police units after the polls./DGB, WDJ