At least a dozen municipalities in Negros Oriental have been identified as election watch list areas in the May 13 elections as of latest validation by the provincial and regional Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Centers or JPSCC.
These are the towns of Jimalalud, Bacong, Basay, La Libertad, Zamboanguita, Vallehermoso, Bindoy, Pamplona, Sibulan, Valencia, Siaton and Sta. Catalina, according to Supt. Alet Virtucio, deputy provincial police director of Negros Oriental.
Areas that have a history of intense political rivalry and/or the presence of armed and other threat groups, such as the New People’s Army, are being placed under the watch list, Virtucio said.
However, according to Sr. Supt. Noli Romana, OIC provincial police director of Negros Oriental, the watch list is expected to change in the coming weeks with various factors to consider.
He hopes the number of election watchlist areas in the province will be reduced even as he admitted that it is a challenge for him and the PNP to ensure the conduct of a peaceful and orderly elections in May.
Sr. Supt. Romana described as “gargantuan” the task of the PNP to match the 2010 polls in Negros Oriental where authorities had reported of a zero election-related violent incident.
But Romana is hopeful that again, the province will earn the same accomplishment as he urged all sectors for their support and cooperation for a peaceful and orderly elections.
He said it is not just the task of the PNP, the Commission on Elections, the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the citizens’ arms but the electorate and the entire citizenry as well to achieve such goal. (PNA)
