Oct. 28 barangay polls set – Comelec 20 nabbed for violating gun ban; 19 guns taken

By Carlito C. Dar

BAGUIO CITY – The Commission on Elections said the gun ban is on in time for barangay elections on Oct. 28 even as 19 firearms were confiscated and 20 persons apprehended   

           

Cordillera regional police director for operations Senior Supt. Ulysses Abellera and Col. Paul Atal of the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army,  said security preparation were in place and that they will do their best  to assure peaceful and orderly barangay election.

This, as the Comelec said it is set for the Oct. 28 barangay election in the Cordillera Administrative Region even as the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines  spokesmen said they were  confident of a peaceful and orderly polls in the region.

Comelec-CAR regional director Julius Torres said preparations for the barangay elections were set even as trainings for board of election tellers were earlier scheduled,

Torres said there were about 74 barangays regionwide identified by the PNP as areas of concern.

But he said they were not anticipating any problem as he expressed his confidence on ability of the PNP and AFP in controlling any untoward situation  even in Abra where majority of the concerned barangays  are  located.

In Benguet, Comelec provincial supervisor Julia Elenita Capuyan said election materials will be delivered  earlier and will reach the different barangays  including the in far flung areas  ready  for election day.

Capuyan said election paraphernalia would be delivered starting Oct. 3.

Municipal election officers in Bakun and Kibungan towns earlier  requested that election paraphernalia be delivered to the municipalities earlier  so that  these  would be distributed  and   reach  the  barangays in time  for  election day.

Several barangays in Benguet are accessible  passing thru La Union and Ilocos Sur.

Some barangays can  only be reached by foot or walking several hours through mountainous.

Meanwhile,  Benguet provincial police director Senior Supt. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said additional troops would be deployed in four municipalities of the province, particularly in the tri-boundaries of Ilocos Sur and La Union, to ensure safe and peaceful elections due to sightings of New People’s Army.

He said police troops including the Provincial Public Safety Company will augment troops deployed by the Philippine Army this election period to ensure safety of barangays on watch list of the Comelec.