NorMin 'generally peaceful'

AN OFFICIAL of the Police Regional OfficeNorthern Mindanao (PRO10) yesterday said the conduct of the midterm elections in the region was generally peaceful, even as authorities are looking into whether the shooting incident that killed a village official in Clarin, Misamis Occidental was election-related.

PRO-Northern Mindanao spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Surki Sereñas said the election was peaceful and successful despite few isolated incidents.

Police have arrested 14 people who violated the liquor ban and 16 others were nabbed for alleged involvement in vote-buying. More than P1.1 million intended to buy votes was seized while cases have already been filed in court.

Sereñas also said out of the 200 reserved personnel, only eight were utilized as either electoral board or board of election inspectors after some teachers failed to report to their respective precincts in the towns of Munai and Tagoloan in Lanao del Norte.

Meanwhile, the Clarin town police was ordered to conduct in-depth investigation on the killing of Ric Isidro Moreno, a kagawad in Barangay Poblacion, after he cast his vote, last Monday.

"The order of the regional director is to conduct in depth investigation and look into election-related angle. Otherwise, it must be considered as murder not related to election," Sereñas said.

In Cagayan de Oro City, no major incidents related to the election was recorded, the local police said.

Lieutenant Colonel Mardy Hortillosa II, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police (Cocpo), said there were three recorded incidents of combined violation of gun ban and liquor ban in the city which resulted to the arrest of five personalities.

"There is no untoward incident that disturbed the peaceful election in the city. The city police didn't receive any call for assistance from the electoral board on any incident that disturbs the peace and order in the polling center," Hortillosa said.

He said the city police have secured all electionrelated activities including election materials.

City police director Colonel Nelson Aganon lauded his men and other security forces such as the Task Force Oro, the army's 65th Infantry Battalion and all stakeholders who have helped in ensuring that the election in the city is safe and peaceful.