CPPO readies crowd mgm’t team as poll contingency plan

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Police Office has prepared a contingency plan in anticipation of possible conflict once election results are released.

A platoon of Crowd Dispersal Management (CDM) yesterday rehearsed at the CPPO headquarters on how to address rallies political that supporters may stage after the elections.

CPPO director Senior Supt. Clifford Gairanod said he prepared his own CDM as contingency plan if shortly after the May 9 polls, disgruntled politicians and their supporters who cannot accept defeat may hold a rally.

“In case if there will be rally possible after election because of disgruntled politicians who cannot accept their loss or defeat and the supporters might rally,  might engage in chaos and disturbance, so at least we’re ready,” he said.

The CDM is composed of 30 personnel from the Regional Public Safety Battalion-7 downloaded to Cebu Province.

“Actually the entire Region 7 police have their own contingency plan - the Cebu City, Mandaue City - they have their CDM so I’m just preparing also my CDM,” Gairanod added.

He said CPPO probably had no CDM before, or if ever there was, the personnel composing the CDM did not fully know the formation, orders, and instructions in managing a rowdy crowd so they taught them yesterday. — (FREEMAN)