Police and education authorities have cited unity, proper coordination, and cooperation as the factors that led to the success of the recent midterm elections in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Brig. Gen. David Peredo, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-CAR, on Thursday said they were pleased by the efficient management of peace, order, and security in the region, particularly in the province of Abra, where 91 percent of registered voters were able to cast their ballots.
Based on a report, the PROCAR said security forces implemented various programs, projects and initiatives to manage the Abra situation that could be adopted in the next election—mobilization of tactical motorcycle units in “sitios”, narrow roads, and areas with history of violence; establishment of mobile checkpoints aside from fixed checkpoints; intensified conduct of the “Oplan Bakal or “Oplan Sita” especially against individuals carrying sling bags; tagging along of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in operations to ensure that vehicles can be flagged and firearms and other contraband are not transported; installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in election areas of concern and visitation of the PROCAR head in areas with reported election violence.
Peredo said, “Very challenging ang election day sa Abra, we managed well, but there were five incidents during the day, but attempts to disrupt the election were addressed by the security forces kaya tuloy pa rin ang election, no disruption (Election day in Abra was challenging, we managed well, but there were five incidents during the day, but attempts to disrupt the election were addressed by the security forces that allowed the election to continue without disruption).”
He added that the key factor was the coordination with all stakeholders who shared the police’s goal for a peaceful election.
“Abra recorded a 91-percent voter turnout, proof na successful and orderly ang election and lahat sila gusto maging maayos para makaboto (proof of a successful and orderly election, which is the desire of everybody so that they could cast their vote),” Peredo said.
The province has 188,957 registered voters in 27 municipalities, 303 barangays, and 364 voting precincts.
On the other hand, Estella Cariño, CAR regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd), said that quality management of the peace and order situation by government security forces, especially in problematic areas, gave confidence to their personnel in serving on the day of the election.
“The assistance of the police was very evident; they were just there in the area, ensuring the safety of everybody, and nobody backed out. The teachers were not so stressed, and their feedback was that they were cared for by the Comelec (Commission on Elections) and the security forces,” Cariño said.
Meanwhile, the PROCAR recommended to Comelec that personnel from other government security agencies, such as the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, be utilized as special election boards (SEBs) in the succeeding elections so that the police could be fully utilized for security matters.
Torres said they would recommend this to the Comelec central office, and hopefully, it would be studied for implementation.
“We need to study it, but I think it can be done,” he said. (PNA)