NCRPO: Metro Manila polls ‘generally peaceful’

MANILA, Philippines — The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in Metro Manila yesterday was generally peaceful, according to a National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) official.

Senior Superintendent Benjamin Acorda Jr., NCRPO intelligence chief, said no major incident was recorded.

“There was a minor commotion at a polling place in Taguig City as reported by Amelia de Mesa, principal of the Araullo School, but was placed under control by responding policemen,” he said in an interview.

A vote-buying incident was also reported in Mandaluyong City but the local police are on top of the situation.

Chief Superintendent Amando Empiso, Northern Police District director, said there was a shooting last Saturday involving a barangay kagawad candidate in Caloocan City.

Two assailants shot at the gate of Ronald Paras’ house in Whispering Palm Subdivision in Barangay 167 Saturday night. Police recovered 10 bullet casings at the crime scene.

In eastern Metro Manila, six persons were arrested for violating the election-related liquor ban on Sunday.

Police arrested Jay Pangan, Ronald Sevilla, and Emmanuel Cabullo after catching them drinking at the Dampa restaurant in Barangay Concepcion Uno.

Restaurant employees Jason Deloviar and Chona Redocto were also arrested for selling liquor to the three suspects.

Emilio Delfin was arrested after police officers, who were responding to a call for help, chanced upon him drinking liquor with his friends along Baltazar street in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City.

Delfin was arrested after he allegedly confronted the police officers and cursed at them. His friends escaped.

Campaign litter

Meanwhile, members of the EcoWaste Coalition expressed disappointment yesterday after they found sample ballots and other campaign materials littering some poll precincts in Makati and Manila.

Daniel Alejandre, zero waste campaigner, said that in one school in Manila, supporters of some candidates were smoking in the school compound.

He also said that in some poll precincts in Quezon City, campaign leaflets and single-use food packs were not properly collected and put in garbage containers.

Department of Education Order No. 5, issued in 2014, enjoins schools to enforce the prohibition on littering and burning of waste while DepEd Order No. 48, issued in 2016, reiterates the ban on smoking in school premises, EcoWaste said. – With Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Rhodina Villanueva