The Mimaropa region remains free from election-related violent incidents since the start of the election period on Jan. 12, a police official said on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Police Brig. Gen. Roger L. Quesada, director of the Police Regional Office 4B, attributed the peace and order accomplishment to intensified security measures across the region that includes police visibility and setting up as many checkpoints in strategic areas.
"The presence of nearly 10,000 checkpoints has been instrumental in keeping the campaign period peaceful and preventing any untoward incidents,” said Quesada.
“We are taking all necessary measures with the Comelec (Commission on Elections) and other stakeholders to maintain this status throughout the election period.” he added.
Citing data from the police’s Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC), Quesada said no suspected or validated election-related incidents have been recorded since Jan. 12 in Mimaropa which covers the provices of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.
To further secure the election period, he said police forces in the region have strictly enforced the Comelec gun ban, the latest result was the confiscation of two small firearms, eight rounds of ammunition, and six other prohibited weapons, including replicas, improvised weapons, and bladed instruments.
Aside from intensifying security measures, Quesada said he also ordered his men to beef up monitoring on electoral fraud, particularly all forms of vote-buying.
"Vote-buying undermines the integrity of the election process. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any such incidents so that violators can be held accountable," he said.