PNP Davao sees peaceful elections on May 2013

DAVAO CITY, April 4 (PIA) The Davao Region Police Office has projected a peaceful conduct of elections among rival political parties of local candidates in most parts of its jurisdiction.

Chief Superintendent Anselmo Pinili, assistant regional director for administration of the Police Regional Office XI said based on their assessment no major contest is expected among the local candidates vying for public positions in Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, and Davao del Norte, except in Davao del Sur where strong political candidates are gunning for local posts.

He said the police are closely monitoring the situation particularly on this area of concern. Pinili said they are banking on the civility of Davao del Sur politicians not to engage violent means.

“Since they are peace-loving candidates, we foresee no election-related violent incident.  As of now, we have not recorded any election-related violent incident in any part of the region,” he said.

Pinili said that currently, the police are implementing the campaign plan based on Letter of Instruction Secure and Fare Elections to ensure peace in the forthcoming May 13 polls.

He said most of the violent incidents in the region are perpetrated by the communist rebels who figure in burning of construction equipment and extortion activities victimizing businessmen and politicians.

Earlier, Lt. General Jorge Segovia, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command observed that the communist rebels and their legal fronts have intensified their activities taking advantage of the recent disaster brought about by typhoon Pablo and the Yuletide ceasefire which gave them a breathing space to move around.

He said the forthcoming election is also used by the rebels as opportunity to intensify their extortion activities by picking on businessmen and politicians.

“They are creating violent activities in order to easily instil fear on the people,” Segovia said.

He expressed confidence that these incidents will not impact on the residents with the peace and development outreach program in place in the countryside given the support by the local government units and other stakeholders. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)