Camp Olivas, Pampanga—Police authorities in Central Luzon have adopted three measures to assure the holding of honest, orderly, peaceful elections on May 15.
The three measures include the revamp of police officers, the establishment of 251 checkpoints, and holding covenants of government agencies with stakeholders.
Police Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon M. Coronel, regional director of the Police Regional Office 3, said those affected by the reshuffle are two provincial directors and 17 chiefs of police in the region.
Affected by the revamp are the provincial director of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Angeles City, and 12 municipalities of Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Bulacan, and Bataan.
Coronel said the reshuffle of police officers is a routine practice in the Philippines National Police to give well-rounded knowledge of the situation in the new assignment.
In Pampanga, Senior Supt. Jean Fajardo replaced Senior Supt. Nicolas Salvador as new provincial director, while Senior Supt. Jesus A. Rebua was designated as the provincial director of Tarlac vice Senior Supt. Richie Podadas.
Rebua was formerly the operations chief of PRO 3 before he assumed his new position.
Senior Supt. Narvin N. Mangune, a member of the Philippine National Police Academy “Tagabuklod” class of 1989, is the new chief of police of Angeles City. He replaced Senior Supt. Enrico H. Vargas, who was promoted.
Coronel said the establishment of 151 checkpoints in the strategic areas of the region is very effective in curbing criminality, including illegal drugs, in preparation for the midterm elections.
A few days before the implementation of gun ban, two riding-in-tandem were killed when they ignored a police check point in San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan.
Police also arrested four persons and seized five firearms at checkpoints, he added.
In Bulacan, a Unity Walk and Peace Covenant was signed by government agencies in Malolos City to drumbeat the holding of a clean midterm election on May 15.
The covenant was signed by the regional representatives of the Commission on Election, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Interior and Local Government, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and the PNP led by Coronel.
In attendance were non-government organizations, religious, civic, academe and other regional groups in Central Luzon.
Coronel said he finds the establishments of checkpoints are very effective in curtailing the commission of crimes, including illegal drugs and loose firearms.
