Iloilo Police All Set For The Election Period

Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) is all set in its security preparations for the election period that commenced on Sunday.

A Provincial Task Group (PTG) for SAFE 2016 was created headed by IPPO Officer-In-Charge Police Senior Superintendent Roderick Augustus Alba and composed of personnel who will take care of the Risk and Security Assessment, contingency planning and security operations.

The PTG will coordinate with municipal election officers and other law enforcement agencies such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in order to fully implement the security preparations particularly the implementation of gun ban starting on January 10.

“I have ordered all the Chiefs of Police to personally lead the conduct of checkpoints which will done together with members of the AFP,” Alba said.

Meanwhile, IPPO is prepared to focus on election watchlist areas, which are yet to be determined by COMELEC, should the need arises.

An area may be declared by COMELEC as election watchlist areas if it has a history of violence, presence of armed groups or private armies and presence of guerrilla fronts.

To date, IPPO has not received any reports on the existence of private armed groups within the province. (PNA) FPV/PGL-PR/CBF