Aklan PNP ready for May 10 polls

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

(Akeanon) Aklan PNP, preparado eon sa eleksyon
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KALIBO, Aklan - With just two weeks before the May 10 elections, Senior Superintendent Epifanio Bragais, Jr. has expressed the readiness of the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) in a bid to achieve an orderly, honest and credible conduct of polls.

Bragais said their security preparations for the country's first automated local and national elections is all set that will secure the polling centers, especially in far-flung areas in the province of Aklan.

"We are ready and fully prepared for the upcoming election. The police regional office is also deploying more personnel to Aklan to ensure the voting precincts have policemen," the provincial police director stressed.

Bragais said a command send-off ceremony of the additional personnel is scheduled next week at Camp Pastor Martelino for police visibility in strategic areas of the province.

Meanwhile, APPO reported the arrest of 21 gun ban violators, mostly civilians, apprehended in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoints in the province. A policeman, a jail officer and a government security officer were among those arrested, however, the case filed against a jail officer was dismissed.

The nationwide gun ban was implemented to prevent violence in the political campaign where only security details of politicians will be allowed to carry firearms during the election period.

Comelec Resolution No. 8714 prohibits the carrying and transport of firearms, explosives and deadly weapons during the six-month election period and only bonafide members of Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and law enforcement agencies in proper uniform and while in official duty are authorized to carry firearms.