Manila: Negros Oriental: Government forces in Negros Oriental province have assured the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of their full preparedness for the May 12 midterm elections. This assurance came from the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army, and the Philippine Coast Guard during the final meeting of the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) at the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lt. Col. Michael Aquino, commanding officer of the 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, represented the 302nd Brigade and assured voters, particularly those in remote areas, of their safety on election day. He emphasized the Army's dedication to addressing any security threats from the communist terrorist group and other lawless elements to provide a safe environment for voters to exercise their right to vote. Aquino urged PJSCC members to continue their collaborative efforts to safeguard the sanctity of the electoral process and ensure voters' safety. He also assured that the government's anti-insurgency operations will continue unhampered during the election period.
Col. Ronan Claravall, the police provincial director of Negros Oriental, underscored the importance of the PJSCC meeting participants in facilitating a successful and smooth conduct of the midterm elections. He reassured that all agencies, offices, and units involved are working as a team to perform their best during the elections. An earlier briefing indicated the deployment of approximately 1,400 police personnel for election duty, with an additional 310 uniformed personnel from the Negros Island Region-Police Regional Office 7.
Lt. Junior Grade Marionne Abigail Enopia, head of the local Coast Guard Station, committed to mobilizing all personnel to different coastal areas in the province, including Apo Island, with patrol boats on standby and uniformed personnel at key sea ports.
Meanwhile, lawyer Eddie Aba, Negros Oriental provincial election supervisor, provided reminders to private partners involved in the elections. He urged the general managers of the two electric cooperatives in Negros Oriental to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the elections, canvassing of votes, and proclamation. Aba also emphasized the importance of timely delivery of automated counting machines by the cargo forwarders.
Comelec-NIR regional election director Lionel Marco Castillano expressed confidence in the electoral process, noting that with all contingencies in place, the election in Negros Oriental will proceed without any significant untoward incidents. Castillano highlighted the unified group working together to ensure the elections' success, even without the province being placed under Comelec control.
