PNP deploys 149 men to Isabela town for special polls
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Mon, 20 May 2019 04:00:21 +0000
A total of 149 policemen were deployed to Isabela on Monday to secure the conduct of special elections that was prompted by the torching of two vote counting machines (VCM) by unidentified men.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde said the policemen were deployed at 6 a.m. to “secure and assure the safe conduct of special elections in Barangay Dicamay Uno, Jones, Isabela.”
Last Tuesday, election officers said the VCMs were being delivered to the municipal hall aboard a dump truck when it was attacked by two armed men.
Police said the suspects took the truck’s key and torched the VCMs before escaping. Jones is the only area in Cagayan Valley under the “red” hotspot category due to intense political rivalry.
“Until now, we are not lowering our guards yet and all election security measures will be similarly implemented in the succeeding days and weeks until the official culmination of the election period on June 12,” Albayalde said in a press briefing.
Incumbent mayor Leticia Sebastian and businesswoman Melanie Uy are both vying for the town’s mayoralty. NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS
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