Zambo Peninsula placed in pollwatchlist

ZAMBONGA CITY, Philippines– The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday placed the entire Zamboanga Peninsula under critical areas to curb poll-related violence.

The Comelec decision came seven days before the May 9 elections.

The Police Regional Office 9 will deploy additional 800 police officers to ensure peaceful and orderly elections, according to PRO-9 director Chief Superintendent Miguel Antonio Jr.

“All areas in the region are considered critical or under immediate concern because this is a national election. We don’t want to be caught off-guarded,” Comelec-Region 9 assistant election officer Florencio Saministrado said.

Citing previous violent incidents in some areas in Western Mindanao, Saministrado said they want to ensure safe elections in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Antonio said the regional police command recovered 348 firearms and 2,286 pieces of ammunition since the Comelec imposed the nationwide gun ban on Jan. 10.