SECURITY COOPERATION. Army Brig. Gen. Leonardo Peña, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, receives a memento from Negros Oriental provincial police director Col. Germano Mallari during the May 16, 2022 flag-raising ceremony at the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office. The two security officials continued the joint security plan for Negros Oriental until the end of the election period on June 30, 2022. (Photo courtesy of NOPPO)
DUMAGUETE CITY – Police and military authorities in Negros Oriental are still on guard against possible post-election violence.
Provincial police director Col. Germano Mallari and Brig. Gen. Leonardo Peña, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Tanjay City, told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday that except for minor changes, the joint security plan is still in effect.
Both security officials said it is crucial to monitor the "brewing political tension" between opposing camps regarding the election results of the governorship of the province, particularly the oath-taking of elected officials on June 30.
Bayawan City Mayor Pryde Henry Teves defeated incumbent Gov. Roel Degamo in the May 9 polls.
However, the governor is pursuing a disqualification case against a nuisance candidate who went by the name of Ruel Degamo, which his camp said has led to confusion among voters.
The governor said if they win the pending disqualification case, the votes of Ruel Degamo will be transferred to him, thus earning him more votes than Teves.
Mallari said only 25 police personnel deployed for poll duty here by the regional headquarters had already returned to their original posts.
“Until the election period is over on June 30, whatever is stipulated in the joint security plan will continue,” he said.
These will include joint static and mobile checkpoints, the Comelec ban on firearms and ammunition, and mobile and foot patrols, among others.
Meanwhile, Peña said the same is true with the Army, with soldiers already pulled out of election duty although he did not mention numbers.
“We continue with our primary role in fighting the insurgency, however, we remain as the ‘muscle’ of the PNP whenever necessary, as Comelec-deputized agents,” he said in mixed English and Filipino. (PNA)
