The military will maximize its visibility operations in the hinterlands of the 5th district of Negros Occidental, especially in the six barangays classified as rebel-influenced areas, Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said.

Lactao said this is part of their security preparation for the June 2 special elections, He said the Army reservists will also help the Philippine National Police in securing less difficult areas in the district, which is composed of Binalbagan, Hinigaran, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Isabela and Himamaylan City.

Although no barangay in the 5th district of Negros Occidental has been categorized as an “election watchlist area” by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Police, the Police Regional Office 6 is beefing up the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office with 150 police personnel. This is is on top of the 60 policemen doing immersion activities Negros barangays, Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, provincial police director, said.

“ We have an adequate police force to secure the June 2 special election in the 5th district ”, Guisihan said.

Lactao said they will maximize their presence in the mountainous areas to ensure that the people can vote their candidate of choice.

REBEL-INFLUENCED AREAS

The six rebel-influenced areas are in La Castellana, Himamaylan, Binalbagan and Isabela, with 38 polling precincts categorized by the military and police as difficult to reach, due to inaccessibility of transportation.

On May 8, suspected New People’s Army rebels shot dead a government militiaman, in front of his wife and two children, in Brgy. Makilignit, Isabela.

PEACE COVENANT

Provincial Comelec supervisor Jessie Suarez, who presided over the Joint Peace Security Coordinating Council meeting held at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City, said they will hold the signing of the peace covenant among candidates in the special election.

Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol and his nephew, Board Member Emilio Yulo III, initially appear to be heading for a showdown for the congressional seat vacated by the death of Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo.

Suarez said he will personally talk to each of the candidates in the special election during the filing of their certificates of candidacy, and to enjoin them to observe the common poster areas, and campaign in a professional and civil manner.

CAMPAIGN PERIOD

The official campaign period for the vacated 5th district congressional seat will start on May 17.

Guisihan yesterday said the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade has nothing to do with the security of the special election in the district.

The only thing they can do is to go to polling precincts and vote, he said.

Suarez said they have not received any report of existing private armed groups being maintained by politicians in the 5th district.

Lactao, Guisihan and Suarez said they foresee that the election in the 5th district will be peaceful and orderly.

TRO REMOTE?

As to the chances of the Supreme Court issuing a temporary restraining order to stop the June 2 special elections, Suarez, said his personal opinion, is that it is very remote and it will be an unpopular decision if it pushes through.

Comelec Commissioner Armando Velasco had said earlier that they have reached an en banc consensus to proceed with the June 2 special election, but said they will comply with whatever the SC decides. * GPB

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