The Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police bared yesterday their four-phase security methods to ensure peaceful, clean and safe elections in Negros Occidental.

During a Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center meeting, Army Col. Jon Aying, 303 rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the first phase of their security method includes a week-long training for the army and police who will be assigned to polling precincts.

Aying said the second phase involves active checkpoints, combat and visibility operations and securing of the voting centers, the routes of the board of election inspectors to the voting centers, and the electorate.

He said that, in the third phase of the security methods, the army and the police will be more vigilant and prompt in responding to crises situations that may arise during or after the elections.

Lastly, Aying said, they will ensure that there will be a peaceful proclamation and assumption of office of the winners.

NOPPO officer-in-charge, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, said that, although there were several election-related incidents, Negros Occidental's peace and order remains manageable.

Dela Paz said additional policemen from the Regional Public Safety Management Battalion, the PNP Special Action Force and the Provincial Public Safety Company will augment the NOPPO men in securing the polls.

Meanwhile, Aying said they are also preparing information system materials that they will distribute to the public so they will work together with the PNP and the army in securing the elections.

He said they are also prioritizing the towns and cities in Negros Occidental under the Election Watchlist Areas (EWAS) in the coming election.

Thirteen of the 32 towns and cities in Negros Occidental have been included in the Election Watchlist Areas of the PNP. They include the towns Pulupandan, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Toboso, Cauayan, Isabela,Ilog, Candoni, Murcia, Calatrava and La Castellana, and the cities of Sipalay and Escalante.

For a town or city to be included in the EWAS, there should be occurrence of election-related incidents in the last two preceding elections, unresolved political rivalry among contending parties, employment of private armed groups, proliferation of loose firearms, presence of armed groups in rebel influenced barangays, and questionable practices that could lead to the commission of violent incidents.*APN

back to top