Cops: All is set for clean polls

CEBU, Philippines — Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Debold Sinas said all the security plans to ensure peaceful elections have been set.

In a press conference yesterday, he said that over 4,000 policemen have been deployed in strategic areas.  With that number, they are looking at a ratio of having two policemen for each polling precinct.

He, however, clarified that the number of deployed cops would not be the same in each polling center, since they would have to give priority to those high-risk areas.

Sinas explained that in areas where the alert status is red, mostly located in Negros Oriental, there would be up to eight policemen deployed.

“We want to inform everybody that everything is now in place, and tanan naa na sa sakto nila na assignments. We are able to maximize our men. Now what’s left to do is the implementation,” Sinas said.

He added that quick reaction teams will be on standby near the polling centers in order to quickly respond for request of additional forces in any eventualities.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Office Director Royina Garma has also expressed the same readiness to ensure peaceful elections.

Garma had roamed and inspected the mountain barangays of Cebu City, yesterday dawn until late afternoon to make sure that everything is in place.

“Ready na man kami nakapag-patrol na ako and nakita ko ready na especially duon sa mountain areas, na talagang sinigurado ko. Ang dito sa city proper pinipili ko na lang ang madaming tao talaga,” Garma said.

Garma will also be patrolling the areas in Cebu City all throughout the day to make sure that everything will be in place. (FREEMAN)