By JEN BAYLON
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) is optimistic about peaceful and orderly midterm elections, as the province remains relatively free from major security concerns.
NOCPPO Director Police Colonel Rainerio de Chavez assured the Negrenses that they are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of voters during the upcoming May 12 polls.
“We are closely monitoring the situation. So far, we have not identified any major threats that could disrupt the elections,” De Chavez said.
“Our focus is to maintain this peaceful environment and ensure that every voter feels safe and secure when casting their vote,” he added.
De Chavez said there are no significant threats posed by remnants of the communist groups, further contributing to a stable security outlook.
He emphasized that NOCPPO has been proactive in dismantling private armed groups that previously operated in the province.
Negros Occidental is currently classified under the green category, indicating a low risk for election-related violence.
Earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) flagged several local government units (LGUs) in the province, based on historical election-related incidents.
The towns of Isabela and San Enrique have been classified under the yellow category due to their history of election-related violence in the past two elections.
Meanwhile, the municipalities of Calatrava and Cauayan, as well as Sipalay City, have been placed under the orange category due to both previous poll-related incidents and existing serious armed threats.
The remaining 27 LGUs were categorized under the green category, which means the localities are free from any election-related threats.
No localities have been classified under the red category, which indicates that there is a presence of armed groups, or the LGU has a significant history of election-related violence.
De Chavez said these classifications from Comelec will serve as a guide for law enforcement agencies in crafting their security preparations.
“We take these classifications seriously and will use them as a basis for deploying resources and personnel strategically,” he explained.
De Chavez said these designations will still undergo reassessment by the Provincial Joint Security and Control Center to ensure that they reflect the current security landscape accurately.
The NOCPPO has already begun coordinating with other agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to implement comprehensive security measures ahead of the midterm polls.
Police visibility will be heightened in critical areas, checkpoints will be established, and a quick response team will be on standby to address any untoward incidents swiftly./JB, WDJ