The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reiterated its call to local candidates in Abra and the whole region to ensure the attainment of a fair and safe election where voters are free to choose their candidates.
Araceli San Jose, DILG-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) director, on Thursday said, “Our efforts in the government should be complemented by a whole-of-society approach. We need to work together to uphold the integrity of the elections and, most importantly, maintain a peaceful environment for our voters.”
She said the DILG-CAR will continue to support initiatives and programs for the maintenance of public safety and peace, especially as elections near.
The DILG has direct supervision over the Philippine National Police (PNP), which is tasked to ensure peace and order in the communities.
It can be recalled that the Police Regional Office (PRO)-CAR has sent an augmentation of 100 police personnel to Abra to help intensify the checkpoint operations in the province and ensure the safety of the public amid a series of shooting incidents.
The PROCAR also immediately relieved the provincial director with Comelec’s approval due to unresolved shooting cases aside from grenade blast and throwing incidents.
Meanwhile, PROCAR director Brig. Gen. David Peredo ordered intensified police visibility in different parts of the province to abet the commission of crimes and discourage the bringing of firearms outside residence.
“Lumalakas ang loob ng mga tao kapag may hawak na baril kaya kailangan paikutin natin ang mga pulis para maagapan, makita kapag may mga kahina-hinalang nakasukbit sa katawan. Isa iyan sa mga nakikita natin na pwedeng solusyon sa mga shooting incident. Kapag nakakakita din ang mga tao na may mga pulis na nag-iikot sa paligid, mas matatakot din ang criminal na gumawa ng masama kaya hiniling ng regional peace and order council na tumulong ang mga LGU sa pag-provide ng gasoline para parating paikot ikot lang ang mga sasakyan natin (People are less likely to be courageous if they do not have guns and having police personnel moving around and frequently seen will discourage the bringing of firearms, preventing possible shooting incidents or crimes from being committed. The Regional Peace and Order Council has asked that LGUs help provide funds for gas allowance of the police vehicles so that they will continue to move around for purposes of visibility),” Peredo said in a message relayed by the Public Information Office on Thursday. (PNA)