MANILA, Philippines - In an effort to ensure peaceful and orderly elections in May, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa is set to meet today with three rival politicians in Masbate to get their commitment to violence-free polls.
Verzosa and other PNP officials will meet with Masbate Reps. Narciso Bravo, Antonio Kho and Rizalina Lanete, of the first, second and third districts, respectively, at a covered court in the province.
Kho and Bravo are seeking re-election while Lanete is running for Masbate governor against incumbent Gov. Elisa Kho, the congressman’s wife.
Fr. Leo Casas of the Masbate Pastoral Council will spearhead the dialogue with Special Task Force Masbate under Director Perfecto Palad, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations; Chief Superintendent Cecilio Callea, Bicol (Region 5) police director; and Senior Superintendent Eddie Benigay, Masbate police director.
Earlier, Verzosa placed the island province of Masbate under special police watch until the end of the election period to break the cycle of violence there.
Verzosa said Special Task Force Masbate is the main unit responsible for the maintenance of peace and order and all law enforcement and security operations in the province, in close coordination with the Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies in the area.
“It is vital that we (PNP) maintain a strong presence in the province of Masbate through the Special Task Force to effectively carry out law enforcement and security operations during the election period, and more importantly, to break the cycle of election violence, intimidation and political killings in the province,” he said.
Verzosa said the PNP is not taking any chances in ensuring clean and orderly elections in May, adding that they have started putting extra measures in place in areas with a long history of political violence.
Masbate, despite being one of the poorest provinces, is one of the most dangerous places during elections, as local positions are bitterly contested, making it a perennial poll hot spot.