CEBU CITY – The Mandaue City Police Office is ready to secure political events with the campaign period for next year’s election just months away.
Police Lt. Col. Mercy Villaro, information officer of MCPO, said they are working closely with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to come up with an effective security plan.
Political rivalry in the city has become intense.
Last Monday, Dec. 23, an indignation rally was held where 3,000 people showed support for dismissed Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.
The rally was held after the Comelec decided to cancel Cortes’ Certificate of Candidacy for material misrepresentation.
Villaro said that the recent indignation rally was attended by 3,000 people and not 16,000 as reported in social media.
She said the MCPO is preparing for similar activities.
The campaign period for national candidates will be from Feb. 11 to May 10. The campaign period for local candidates is set on March 28 to May 10.
“We will seek guidance from the Comelec especially when it comes to providing security during political rallies,” Villaro told reporters on Friday, Dec. 27.
Through the Comelec, the police have will be guided on their limitations when it comes to providing security during political activities, Villaro added.
Before the campaign period starts, the MCPO will obtain the schedule of rallies that various political groups will hold in the city to enable them to prepare the needed security plan, Villaro said.
Villaro added that enough personnel will be deployed during political gatherings.
The MCPO will be impartial as all events will be secured by police regardless of the political affiliations of the groups spearheading the activities.
“We will have a maximum deployment of our personnel on the field,” Villaro said.