Mayor questions‘too many’cops

CEBU, Philippines - Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia has expressed his concern on “too many policemen” deployed in his town for Monday’s barangay election.

Garcia told The Freeman that the Regional Public Safety Batallion (RPSB)- 7 sent eight personnel while another 17 are to be deployed by the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).

These personnel are augmented in addition to the existing 21 policemen of Dumanjug Police Station which Garcia described as an“overkill”.

According to Garcia, he was informed by CPPO director Sr. Supt. Noel Gillamac that the policemen deployed in the town is part of CPPO’s security plans for the barangay election where 300 police personnel will be distributed in all municipalities and cities of the province.

The same concern was raised by Garcia during the midterm election last May when a number of personnel from the Regional Mobile Group were reportedly deployed in Dumanjug and allegedly escorted candidates of the administration’s Liberal Party.

Garcia is a member of the One Cebu Party, a local ally of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance.

“Wa may gubot diri sa Dumanjug, ang ila gibutang sa hot spot ang Barangay Poblacion Sima nga wa may kontra ang ila (LP) kapitan (There is no chaos here in Dumanjug. They placed Brgy Sima under the hot spot list when in fact their (LP) captain is unopposed),” Garcia said.

But CPPO have clarified that Barangay Poblacion Sima in Dumanjug has been removed from the election watch list areas (EWAS).

However, Barangay Candabong of the same town remained on the list due to “intense political rivalry” as recommended by Dumanjug police chief, Sr. Insp. Cesar Misola,

The two candidates for barangay captain, Servando Angana and Placido Mayonila, reportedly figured in a verbal tussle recently in relation to the barangay elections.

CPPO categorized the said barangay as category 1 on the EWAS which means that the occurrence of election- related incidents is likely to occur in the area.- /ATO (FREEMAN)