LEGAZPI CITY -- About 2,000 policemen from the Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG) were deployed to Masbate province on Monday, a ranking officer of Bicol police has said.
Senior Inspector Ma. Luisa Calubaquib, Philippine National Police (PNP) regional spokesperson, said in an interview Thursday that majority of the RSOTG members were taken from all PNP units in Bicol.
"A company of the Special Action Force from Camp Crame also arrived and now part of the task group. The RSOTG will be headed by the PRO5 (Police Regional Office-5) (Bicol Region) Deputy Regional Director for Operation, Senior Supt. Jerry Linsagan as task group commander", Calubaquib added.
“You will be in Masbate for the rest of the election period to assure a clean and peaceful Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, you have to serve in Masbate with no fear and no favor to any candidates. You will be there just to work and for public service,” said Regional Director Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola Jr. in his message before the deployment.
The Armed Forces based in Masbate, especially the Philippine Army, will also help the RSOTG in maintaining the peace during the polls.
They will help each other to crackdown the alleged armed supporters and private armed groups of some of the candidates, she said.
Calubaquib said over 50 election-related shooting incidents took place since last January in Masbate province.
Meanwhile, to erase the possible familiarity with some candidates, Gardiola decided to relieve Senior Supt. Froilan Elopre as Masbate provincial director.
Elopre is temporarily assigned inside Camp Gen. Simeon Ola for the duration of election period and is replaced by Senior Supt. Froilan Navarrosa.
Masbate province has always been tagged by the Commission on Elections and the PNP as election hot spot during past elections due to intense political rivalries, proliferation of firearms, presence of political armed groups including the New People’s Army. (PNA)
