NCRPO Hopes For Peaceful Barangay Elections
2013-08-16
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A couple of months before the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, Metro Manila remains peaceful, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Thursday, August 15, during the NCRPO command conference held at the Valenzuela City Social Hall.
This was the conclusion despite some criminal incidences from January to August where five barangays officials were killed. These criminal incidences do not ‘categorically’ qualify as election-related violence as they occurred before the official election period of September 28 to November 12.
“In totality, wala tayong nakikitang problema sa 2013 barangay and SK elections. We hope that with the full and proper implementation of our security plan, magiging tahimik ang ating halalan. (We do not see any problem which is related to the 2013 Barangay and SK elections. We hope that with the full and proper implementation of our security plan, the elections would turn out peacefully.)” Regional Intelligence Division chief, P/SUPT Benjamin Acorda said, addressing other NCRPO officials, district directors and chiefs of police.
Acorda added that the NCRPO has not received any report of threat groups, including private armed groups (PAGs), operating in the metro.
Political rivalries also have yet to be a cause for alarm.
“The political rivalries within NCR have not yet reached the ‘level’ that would cause alarm nor has it come to the status that would have an effect on the general peace and order situation in Metro Manila,” Acorda further said.
Citing a report from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Acorda also said terrorism threat level in NCR for the month of August is “moderate,” or a terror attack is possible but not likely.
During the last barangay elections on 2010, two election-related violence incidences were reported.
The NCRPO also announced it is partnering with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in running 730 joint security assistance desks (JSADs) at polling clusters in Metro Manila.
Around 700,000 are expected to cast their votes on election day, October 28.
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