SAFER POLLS. Some of the police officers during their send-off ceremony in Babatngon, Leyte on March 1. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has sent 235 junior police officers to Samar province for peacekeeping missions ahead of the campaign period for local candidates. (Photo courtesy of PNP Region 8)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine National Police sent 235 junior police officers to Samar province on Tuesday for a peacekeeping mission ahead of the campaign period for local candidates.
The PNP-Basic Internal Security Operations Course completers joined the send-off ceremony at their training site in Babatngon, Leyte for a special assignment in selected areas in Samar, according to a report sent by the PNP regional office here late Tuesday.
“This send-off ceremony is a fitting testimony of our aspiration for a successful conduct of the national and local elections. Render your election duties and responsibilities with diligence especially where our services are much needed. We have certainly learned our lessons from the past elections. Now, we are prepared more than ever. Let us do our job well,” PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement.
The personnel will be deployed to police stations in Calbayog City, Gandara, Sta. Margarita, Matuguinao, and San Jorge towns. These areas are known for election-related violence.
The 235 policemen will be part of the Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG) - Samar purposely for peacekeeping missions.
Earlier, the PNP has reactivated the RSOTG-Samar to ensure peaceful and orderly elections in the province this year.
The activation of the regional operations task group is a proactive measure of the police regional office to prevent election-related violence, Banac said.
The team will focus on monitoring and supervision in areas of Samar to prevent and address election-related incidents that may occur in the areas as perceived in the previous elections caused by intense political rivalry between contending candidates.
Poll-related incidents are more prevalent in the first district of Samar.
Just this month, three supporters of a mayoralty candidate were ambushed in Santa Margarita, Samar while a youth council official was fatally shot in Calbayog City, Samar. (PNA)
