Elections opened and closed peacefully in Compostela Valley, particularly in Monkayo, which was put under Comelec control due to the upsurge of violence days leading to the May 14 polls.
Brig. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commanding General of the 1001st Infantry Brigade, said that they monitored Election Day without untoward incidents but he said the military would still be in full alert until the canvassing ends.
Violence was feared during Election Day as reports of shooting incident in New Bataan and armed harassment against a mayoralty candidate reached the police and military. But as voting opened at 7 a.m. last May 14 and ended 3 p.m. that same day, the military and police monitored no untoward incident.
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According to Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial director Senior Superintendent Nestor Quinsay, New Peoples Army fronts are operating in almost all areas in Compostela Valley particularly in Monkayo where there are also serious threats from private armed groups.
Quinsay said that about 600 police, military including Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs) were deployed to secure Compostela Valley, particularly concentrating in Monkayo.
Like Compostela Valley Province, elections in the rest of the Davao Region were peaceful. (PIA XI/RG Alama)
