Police Regional Office 11 Spokesperson Police Chief Inspector Andrea Dela Cerna (davaotoday.com file photo by Ace R. Morandante)
By May Anne Love Deseo
DAVAO CITY – Police confiscated a total of 181 firearms and 104 deadly weapons, and arrested 248 persons in the course of conducting election-related checkpoints in the region.
Police Regional Office 11 Spokesperson Police Chief Inspector Andrea Dela Cerna on Sunday, May 8 reported the statistics while saying that the deployment of troops within the region has been completed in time for the 2016 elections.
With a total of 4, 369 policemen and military personnel, Dela Cerna added that “they are already on field performing election duties.”
“We also have the quick reaction forces within the region composed of personnel from regional public safety battalion,” Dela Cerna said.
Dela Cerna said that they have not received any reports of harassment or threats.
She said that the Police Regional Office has listed 36 Election Watchlist Areas which they will give extra security to, based on the history of previous election-related violence in the areas.
Dela Cerna added that they will be doubling their efforts in securing the safety of the people this coming election.
During a press conference on Sunday, Dela Cerna said that the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC), located at Camp Catitipan, is in-charge of monitoring all the election activities within the region.
“REMAC will serve as the information center. You can visit REMAC if you want to get information with regards to the situation and updates on election matters,” she said.
She added that if voters are to report any suspicious activity, the police regional office hotline is 0917-707-8547.
“We remain non-partisan and apolitical. We also call for the public for their vigilance,” Dela Cerna said. (davaotoday.com)
