The Puerto Princesa City Police Office (PPCPO) said Thursday that the conduct of the May 13 midterm elections in the city was “generally peaceful.”
Police Captain Pearl Manyll Lamban-Marzo, PPCPO information officer, said only two suspects were apprehended for illegal possession of firearms since the gun ban started on January 13.
“Peaceful ang Puerto Princesa City, wala tayong mga naitalang significant violations na related sa election. Meron lamang nasampahan na dalawa [against the] Omnibus Election Code sa gun ban. Ito naman, ‘yong insidenteng in-involve-an ng mga taong ito ay hindi naman pang-eleksyon. Nakitaan lang kasi bawal talaga. Ang isa ay sa operation ng Republic Act (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) 1965, then ‘yong isa possession din. [Through] police operations pero hindi siya election related talaga,” Marzo said.
Marzo said the arrests were conducted through police anti-drug operations in April.
However, she said there was no liquor ban violator reported this midterm polls in the city.
Marzo said they received reports of vote buying but admitted: “It is hard to prove.”
“[Ang vote-buying] issues nakarating din naman ‘yan sa atin, nag-monitor naman, pina-monitor ni Sir (PPCPO Director, Police Colonel Marion Balonglong) talaga ang tropa pero wala naman tayong formal complaint na na-receive dito kaya wala tayong mafa-file-an ng case, at the same time walang nakita ‘yong tropa natin, wala tayong proof talaga na may nangyayaring vote-buying,” she added.
A total of 500 city police personnel were deployed all over the city for election duties.
“PNP’s point of view diyan ay unang-una kasi talagang nag-enhance naman ang mga operations natin, ‘yong checkpoint operations natin, [at] hindi talaga tumigil ang opisina natin na gawin natin ‘yong [lahat] para maging maayos at mapayapa itong ating elections. At the same time siguro an gating mga kababayan naisip na rin nila na kung tutuusin sa continuous reminders natin sa kanila [to cooperate]… Sa tingin ko ‘yon ‘yong mga factor kung bakit naging mapayapa,” Marzo said.
