With the local campaign kicking off on March 25, Provincial Comelec Supervisor Roberto Salazar yesterday called for peaceful elections, as he warned those who may instigate violence that the full force of the government will be applied on them.
The Commission on Elections has identified 18 towns and cities in Negros Occidental as potential election areas of concern due to intense political rivalries, presence of New People’s Army rebels, history of election-related violence, and possible resurgence of private armed groups.
“Let’s make the elections peaceful,” Salazar said.
He stressed that it needs the whole community, and not just the government, to ensure that the May 9 elections will be peaceful.
Salazar said he hopes that the number of potential election hotspots in Negros “will remain as is”.
However, he also entertains the possibility that the number will increase, based on developments as the local campaign starts.
“We will see if there will be intense rivalries, which may lead to the increase in the number of potential election hotspots,” Salazar said.
P/Lt. Abegael Donasco, deputy spokesperson of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, earlier said the province will have an augmentation force of about 500 police personnel during the May 9 elections. | GB
