8,572 cops deployed in Caraga region for May polls

CAMP COL. RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City — To ensure the safety and security of the public during the midterm elections on Monday, May 13, 2019, the regional command on Monday deployed 1,366 policemen as additional police force to various police units spread in the five provinces and six cities in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region.

Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) Regional

Director P/Brig. Gen. Gilberto DC Cruz said he already mobilized 7,206 PNP personnel for the May 13 polls in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur and the Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI) and the cities of Surigao, Tandag, Bislig, Bayugan, Cabadbaran and this region’s premier and capital city of Butuan.

Cruz led his command group in the deployment of the additional 1,366 police forces to different police units during a send-off ceremony here on Monday.

“These additional forces, in support of the different units will also deter crimes during the period,” said Cruz. It will also prevent lawless elements from instigating fear among local communities on Election Day, he added.

This also means that the PNP will arrest more people who are violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban through the implementation of search and arrest warrants, checkpoint operations and police patrols, said Cruz.

“The PNP remains on full alert and we assure the general public that our focused police operations will be more active and intensified,” the region’s top cop said.

Various police units in Caraga region arrested 106 persons violating the election gun ban. A total of 135 firearms were already confiscated in various parts of the region since the start of the election period.

At least 1,296 firearms from civilians while 57 high and low firearms from political local candidates were turned over to the regional command and different police units in the field.