Police to uphold safety this elections

CEBU, Philippines - “Safe elections 2016. Ito po ang paiiralin ng Philippine National Police.”

This was the statement of Police Director Generoso Cerbo, chief of Camp Crame’s Directorate for Intelligence, as he arrived in Cebu yesterday for a meeting with policemen from across the Visayas in line with the campaign period for the May elections.

“Basically the purpose is to check the preparations ng ating mga police with respect to the elections. Titingnan natin kung paano pinaghahandaan nila ang elections,” Cerbo said.

“Kung may malalaki na gathering, dapat maalagaan sila, hindi mati-take advantage ng lawless elements,” he said.

Participating in the two-day meeting are regional, provincial and city police directors, and intelligence chiefs from region six (Western Visayas), region eight (Eastern Visayas) and region 18 (Negros Island Region).

He said keeping the peace and securing candidates is challenging so the public’s cooperation is necessary. He assured that the PNP will not lose sight of its other anti-criminality programs even as it puts priority on election-related roles.

“I-check ko din ang implementation ng Lambat-Sibat which is the crime-reduction strategy na pinatutupad ng PNP. So we are checking on ourselves kung ano na ang level of implementation nila,” Cerbo said.

Go green

Meanwhile, the EcoWaste Coalition called candidates anew to go green in their campaign.

"Regardless of your official party colors — whether it's blue, red, orange, purple, white or yellow,  Please ‘green’ your campaign by addressing environmental issues in your electoral platforms and by campaigning in an eco-friendly way,” said Aileen Lucero, coordinator of the coalition.

Lucero said protecting public health and the environment amid the global climate crisis is a necessity that should bring all aspiring political leaders together.

Lucero, also a member of the newly-launched Green Thumb Coalition, said candidates should include the environment on their priority list and should put their plans in the open.

“We have the right to know who among you will champion the people’s ‘right to a balanced and healthful ecology’ as enshrined in the Constitution,” she said in a statement.

The group also echoed the call of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for a "basura-free elections."

To make this happen, the group urged candidates to designate a task force within their respective groups to take charge of aftercare in every campaign sortie. — (FREEMAN)