There are 2,028 police personnel available for deployment in Negros Occidental, as of March 1, to secure the May 9 elections, provincial police deputy spokesperson, P/Lt. Abegael Donasco, said.
But Donasco said they still need 424 additional personnel to complete the much-needed 2,452 troops to secure the 699 voting centers in the province.
The Commission on Elections tagged 18 towns and cities of Negros Occidental in the election watchlist areas, with four of them placed under the Red category, or areas of grave concern.
These are Escalante City, Candoni, Moises Padilla, and Calatrava.
Classifications are based on the color-coded category, with Green for peaceful, Yellow for areas of concern, Orange for areas of immediate concern, and Red for areas of grave concern.
Orange indicates the presence of NPA rebels, Yellow for those with history of political unrest, Red exhibits the combined factors under the yellow and orange categories, while Green means areas with no cause for concern.
Included in the Orange category are the towns of Toboso, La Castellana, Isabela, Ilog, Hinobaan, Cauayan, Manapla, and Binalbagan and the cities of Sipalay, Himamaylan, Victorias, Kabankalan, and Silay.
Salvador Benedicto falls under the Yellow category, and the rest of the local government units of Negros Occidental under the Green code.
Meanwhile, Donasco said that augmentation troops will come from the maneuver police units, police stations, and provincial police office headquarters.
The Bacolod City Police Office is contributing 129 of its personnel for augmentation to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
Donasco said they are still waiting for guidance from the Police Regional Office 6 headquarters in Iloilo City on the 424 additional cops needed in Negros Occidental.
The Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 and the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade are also expected to help secure the May 9 elections in Negros Occidental. | GB
