Additional security mobilized in R-12 for village polls

GENERAL SANTOS CITY  ---  Some 1,125 additional security personnel were mobilized in parts of Region-12 to augment the security operations in line with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections last May 14..

Superintendent  Aldrin Gonzales, public information officer of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-12, said the augmentation personnel were composed of joint contingents from law enforcement in the region.

He specifically cited the PRO-12 and its support units, Army’s 1002nd Brigade, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

The PRO-12 assigned some 696 police commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, and trainees assigned at the regional headquarters, he said.

Gonzales said 400 personnel were deployed in North Cotabato, 96 to South Cotabato, 90 in Cotabato City, 71 in Sultan Kudarat, 21 in Sarangani, 11 in this city, five in the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center, and two in the Quick Reaction Force.

Aside from these, he said some 308 personnel assigned at the regional headquarters here and its support units were on stand-by for possible deployment.

The police office said the Army 1002nd Brigade mobilized 90 troopers from the 27th Infantry battalion and the Joint Task Force GenSan while the BJMP and PCG assigned 19 and 12 personnel, respectively.

Chief Superintendent Marcelo Morales, Region-12 police director, reiterated that they remain on top of the security situation in the entire region.

“Recent events such as the neutralization of terrorists and the surrender of New People’s Army members along with firearms may suggest that peace and stability is now present in the land. However, during election time, we cannot depend upon such presumption as there are still places in Region-12 that are deemed hotspots and we also have some sightings of rebel activities. So we should have to be more cautious and remain focused on our jobs,” he said in a statement.

Morales personally led the inspection of detention facilities in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces as part of the poll security measures.

“This is to ensure that all prisoners will not be used in political activities and should be all properly accounted for in our jails,” he said.

The police official, along with Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-West Mindanao executive officer Chief Superintendent  Allan Cuevillas, observed the conduct of a bomb explosion simulation exercise held at the Rizal Park in Koronadal City. (PNA - Cotabato MINDANAO EXPOSE’)