Comelec, PNP join forces for peaceful, credible May polls
BY VENUS G. VILLANUEVA

KALIBO, Aklan - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) continue to focus on the enforcement of gun ban, increased police visibility and other actions that would preempt poll-related violence to sustain the government’s campaign for a peaceful and credible May polls.
In this province, Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) Provincial Director Benigno Durana said the PNP has already one gun ban violator in Boracay Island and had already filed a case against this person.
Comelec-Aklan OIC Lorena Tumbagahan said the PNP is its gun ban implementing arm, tasked to monitor and arrest gun ban violators. She also confirmed that the APPO here has already put up checkpoints in the different areas in the province
Tumbagahan also revealed that in the province, a substantial number of persons have applied for gun ban exemptions, composed of elements of the PNP and the AFP, security agencies, government employees and private individuals.
Late-breaking news stated, however, that the Comelec has exempted the PNP and the AFP from the nationwide election gun ban.
This week, Comelec-Aklan expects to complete its list of registered voters.
“We are awaiting only one municipality to submit its list. However, based on what is already here in the provincial office, I can safely say that the increase in the number of voters is not much as many names were scrapped off the lists for failing to vote twice, while some transferred to other provinces. Others also transferred, but only within the province”, Tumbagahan said.
The Comelec is also set to meet DepEd-Aklan Division Superintendent Victorina Laroza to talk about the public school teachers’ election assignments in the May 2007 polls.
“So far, Aklan teachers ever since showed willingness and dedication in rendering service during elections,” Tumbagahan said when queried if the Comelec has encountered problems in this area.
In other parts of the country, the Comelec will be utilizing thousands of ROTC cadets to fill in the void left by lack of teachers. According to the Comelec, the ROTC cadets agreed to being utilized in the elections as they said “this is a way to serve the country.”
Tumbagahan revealed that this coming polls, serving teachers will receive a total of P2,000.00 for rendering work for two days. She assured that in case of any untoward incident and the teacher gets hurt, her actual hospital expenses will be paid by the Comelec but not to exceed P100,000.
At this point also, Comelec-Aklan’s thirteen (1) election officers including Tumbagahan are anticipating to be reshuffled and deployed to nearby Capiz and Antique provinces before the elections.
“We are only waiting for the resolution from Comelec. This is really the usual routine for those election officers who have served a certain municipality for four years. We are not sure yet if after the elections, we would be ordered to come back to our former assignments, Tumbagahan said.