Safety and security forces of Davao City are all set for the 2019 midterm elections slated on Monday, May 13.
This was bared by Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director police colonel Alexander Tagum who was joined by Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) spokesperson LtCol Ezra Balagtey in last Thursday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media briefing held in The Royal Mandaya Hotel.
The DCPO director said the local police are already geared up for the upcoming election following the official send off ceremony held last week in the DCPO grounds.
“It’s all systems go for DCPO. We already launched the send off ceremony last week kasama ang ibang security forces of Davao City,” Tagum said.
Tagum, however, said 52 out of 182 barangays in Davao City are under the orange category of this election while the rest are labeled as green category or normal. “The barangays under the orange category belongs to the hinterland areas of Paquibato, Marilog, Baguio, Calinan and Buhangin,” he elaborated.
Tagum further explained that the areas under the orange category are areas that are previously affected by the operations of the New People’s Army (NPA).
These 52 barangays, said Tagum, will be covered as well by the 3rd Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to support the operations of the local authorities. “Sinimulan na ng 3rd IB ang full support nila to ensure possible intrusion not to happen during the elections.”
Balagtey, on the other hand, said the Eastmincom is ready as far as the election is concerned. “The latest instruction of the Eastmincom commander is to organize the forces under their area of responsibility to assist the forces of the Philippine National Police,” the lieutenant colonel said.
He also explained that these barangays covered under the orange category are now conflict manageable considering the strong support they now get from the community.
Balagtey added that the progressing number of NPA surrenderees is also a big factor to lessen the threat coming from the terrorist group.
Meantime, President Rodrigo Duterte, on, Thursday, May 9, signed a proclamation No. 719, declaring May 13, Monday, as special non-working holiday in time for the national and local midterm elections.
“Whereas, there is a need to declare Monday, 13 May 2019, a special (nonworking holiday to enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote,” read the proclamation.
