FULL support rendered by the public specifically candidates and their supporters to the Police Regional Office 4-A (PRO4-A) greatly contributed to the successful efforts of the police force to ensure a generally peaceful conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in Calabarzon last Monday.

PRO4-A director, Brigadier General Kenneth Paul T. Lucas said that except for some minor glitches that marred the opening of the polls last Monday especially names missing in the voters’ list, the BSKE in the region was very peaceful and orderly.

He added that Calabarzon voters and all BSKE candidates really made true their commitment to uphold peaceful polls which they made thru the signing of a peace covenant prior to the elections.

“Everything went on smoothly and we are proud to say that we were really on top of the situation,” said the PRO4-A director as he ensured that all police forces in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon would be working round-the-clock.

Lucas said that although the actual election is already over, they are still guarding the smooth transport of the ballot boxes to the Comelec hubs and proclamation of the winning candidates.

The PRO4-A director stressed they are also continuing the strict enforcement of the gun ban in the region until November 28 and called on the citizenry to fully cooperate with their checkpoints manned by uniformed officers tasked to prevent the flow of unauthorized weapons that could be used to disrupt peace and order in Calabarzon.

The official said he also did not receive reports regarding partisan politicking activities involving PRO4-A personnel.

More than 11,000 PRO4-A personnel and officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard and other force multipliers were involved in securing the BSKE in the region.

Of the number, around 9,500 Calabarzon policemen were assigned to guard voting precincts, canvassing areas and Comelec facilities.

Security forces also secured the Comelec convoys and manned the different Police Assistance Desks and ‘Kontra-Bigay Complaint Centers’ put up by the Comelec to act on reported ‘vote-buying/selling’ incidents and other poll-related cases.

There were four reported ‘vote-buying/selling’ incidents in the region since the start of the campaign period leading to last Monday’s polls.

The Rizal Police Provincial Office headed by Colonel Felipe B. Maraggun is currently investigating a reported ‘vote-buying’ case in Purok 7, Sitio Tanauan in Bgy. Palaypalay, Jalajala around 8:45 p.m. last October 27.

Recovered during the operation were sample ballots of some BSKE candidates and several white envelopes containing P1,000 bills.

Nearly 600 Rizal policemen guarded 326 polling centers in the province.

Out of the 39 Election-Related Incidents recorded last Monday, only 1 took place in Calabarzon. PRO4-A agents also recorded 18 incidents of violation of the liquor ban in the region which led in the apprehension of 49 persons who are now facing charges for violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

The PRO4-A also reported six suspected ERIs in the region last Monday. One person was reported injured while 9 were unharmed during those recorded incidents which are now being investigated.