CEBU CITY – The Regional Police Office (PRO-7) in Central Visayas has reported a total of 121 persons arrested for violating the liquor ban that started Monday midnight.
Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, regional director of PRO-7, said the arrest was the result of 438 operations conducted in seven provinces and highly urbanized cities in implementing Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 10461.
Of the number, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) headed by Col. Royina Garma, topped the list with the highest number of arrests, with 67 persons – two of whom are minors – placed under investigation. It conducted around 38 police operations in relation to the liquor ban.
The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), under Col. Manuel Abrugena, placed second with 47 persons arrested – including a minor – during 40 related operations.
Operations were also conducted in the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue and the provinces of Siquijor and Negros Oriental but no arrest was reported.
Sinas also said that as of May 12, a total of eight persons were arrested for violating the Comelec gun ban, resulting to the confiscation of three loose firearms. Ten firearms – all from Negros Oriental – were surrendered by the owners for their failure to register them before the Firearms, Explosives, Security Supervision, and Administration Group (FESSAG).
Meanwhile, Sinas reported that the combined force of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have been able to provide “comprehensive security and safety coverage” for the 2,914 voting centers in Central Visayas.
The regional chief of the police said that the PNP dispatched around 8,174 police personnel, while the AFP deployed around 1,442 personnel.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also sent off around 123 coast guard personnel, he said.
The PRO-7 also utilized around 706 barangay peace and security officers (BPSO).
“As regards the security situation, all deployed security personnel provided security coverage in respective polling centers to preserve the sanctity of election process,” Sinas said in a statement.
“There was no significant incident transpired inside the voting centers, Central Visayas remains to be peaceful,” he said. (PNA)
