BONTOC. Mtn. Prov.– The first provincial COMELEC-AFP-PNP and other stakeholders coordinating conference for the May 13, 2019 national and local elections was held on January 17, 2019 at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol here for a secure and fair elections.
PCI Marcos Anod from the Mountain Province Police Provincial Office briefed the participants on the peace and order situation and security concerns.
Representatives from the 54th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army; 50th Infantry Battalion and 81st Infantry Battalion, 71D of the Armed forces of the Philippines updated the participants of their areas of responsibility and their concerns with regards to the forthcoming elections.
The issues regarding gun ban rules and COMELEC checkpoints were clearly explained by Atty. Rodante Selpaten, election officer of this capital town while Atty. Ricardo Bulintao, provincial election supervisor, discussed local absentee voting and related policies.
Dionisio Oya, election assistant from the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor said in an interview during the coffee break that the activity was initiated by their office in partnership with the AFP, PNP and other stakeholders like the DPWH-MPFDEO represented by the assistant district engineer and company, from the provincial government represented by the provincial treasurer and staff.
The election officers/election assistants of the towns of the province were present for the conference as introduced by Wagner Chugsayan, election officer of Natonin together with the chiefs of police/representatives led by PNP provincial director PSSupt. Clarence Casilio.
Meanwhile, in his report, PCI Marcos Anod mentioned about previous election related violence incidents as follows (1) Poblacion, Natonin – May 10, 2004 elections – 29 envelopes of election returns taken away; (2) Betwagan, Sadanga – May 15, 2007 elections – contents of 4 ballot boxes missing; (3) Buringal, Paracelis – May 15, 2007 elections – ballot snatching and (4) Bunot, Paracelis – May 10, 2010 – burning of PCOS machine.
At the end of the day, all the participants in the activity emceed by Chervee Uyod, were one for a secure and fair elections comes May 13, 2019. **Ferdie Cariño Castañeda
