Security forces in Negros Oriental have significantly bolstered election-related checkpoints as the local campaign period intensifies ahead of the May 12 midterm polls, police officials said yesterday.

The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) has expanded its daily checkpoint operations from an initial nine to a comprehensive network covering all major thoroughfares.

Lt. Stephen Polinar, NOPPO spokesperson, attributed this escalation to both the creation of the new Negros Island Region Police Regional Office and the heightened mobility of candidates crisscrossing municipal boundaries.

The 24-hour checkpoint system operates in three shifts, combining the joint Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Philippine National Police-Armed Forces of the Philippines checkpoints enforcing election laws and firearms bans, as well as standard police checkpoints maintaining routine anti-crime operations.

Authorities have already apprehended eight violators of the Comelec gun ban across six municipalities this March, filing charges under Republic Act 10591.

The arrests occurred in Vallehermoso, Dauin, Sta. Catalina, Zamboanguita, Sibulan, Jimalalud, and Bais City, where two incidents were recorded. (PNA)