Cebu police bare risks on election day

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Cebu police bare risks on election day
The Cebu Provincial Police Office runs through some possible risky situations come May 9

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) said on Sunday, May 8, that they have discussed possible risks on election day.

Police Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc, chief of the Police Regional Office for operations and plans division, said destruction or loss of vote-counting machines (VCMs) and election paraphernalia are just few of the possible risks that might happen on Monday, May 9. 


 

Radoc added that attacks on polling stations, liquidation of candidates and intentional disruption of power supply may happen.

The police also listed bombings, terrorist attacks on electoral process, and severe drought as possible risks, but stressed that these are unlikely.


 

Radoc was among the representatives present during the Safe and Fair Elections press conference held at the Election Media Center early Sunday, May 8.


 

Dilaab Foundation’s Mayren Cogtas, acting Cebu provincial election supervisor Eliseo Labaria, and C-Cimpel spokesperson Monsignor Joseph Tan were also present during the forum.

Election watchlist of areas

In Central Visayas, there are 22 municipalities and cities listed under election watchlist of areas (EWAs), as of April 7, 2016.


 

Of the 53 areas in Cebu, there are 8 listed as EWAs, but none in Cebu City.

Bohol, which has 48 towns/cities, has 8 EWAs.


 


 

The entire province of Siquijor is under the watchlist.

Vote-counting machines

Labaria said they have prepared 200 contingency VCMs if some machines will bog down.

He added that they encountered errors in VCMs where ballots get rejected, but they already replaced them.

He said they have technical capabilities to counter problems with SD cards, et cetera.

The Comelec is set to deliver VCMs from Sunday afternoon until midnight, especially in far-flung areas, he said.

Labaria assures that VCMs are not pre-configured, adding that the final testing and sealing held Friday was a success.

Voter’s education

Cogtas, project coordinator of Dilaab Foundation which handles voters’ education, cited examples of some people who refused to sell their votes.

“A well-formed conscience can say no to dishonesty,” Cogtas said.

“Can your vote fix a pothole, unclog the drainage at the street, provide safe drinking water, or reduce crime and corruption? Many of us think that it is not possible. Your vote is a voice that says no to all the problems that plagued us today, and yes to change. Because a vote fills not just a pothole but a need for better planning. It unclogs not the streets during flood, but the path for development. It gives us not only safe water to drink, but the idea of a nurishing society. It rids us not just only of graft and corruption, but the very thought of greed,” Cogtas added. – CID/CNU Comm Intern Elizah dela Rosa/USJ-R Intern Rowinmar Espinosa/Sunnex/Rappler.com

This article is republished under Rappler’s content sharing agreement with the SunStar network in the coverage of the 2016 national and local elections.

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