Cops’ deployment 10 days prior to polls

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) will start deploying police personnel at least 10 days prior to the national and local elections on May 9.

NOCPPO spokesperson Police Lt. Abegael Donasco said they are also ready for the distribution of election-related materials which will be transported to the northern and southern part of the province.
However, Donasco refused to say as to the exact date for security reasons.

The NOCPPO spokesperson also said they will no longer ask for additional manpower from other provinces, as part of protocols to ensure that no new variants of the COVID-19 will enter Negros Occidental.

She added that of the six city and provincial police offices in Western Visayas, only NOCPPO was able to report zero COVID-19 variants.

Nearly 1,400 police personnel under NOCPPO will be assigned to guard voting centers during the elections.

Two policemen will be deployed for each of the 698 voting centers in the province, while the rest will be assigned either to the City or Municipal Election Monitoring and Action Centers, or as part of NOCPPO’s quick reaction force in case a serious incident occurs.

Negros Occidental has a total of 10,130 voting precincts.* (DGB)