CEBU CITY – With the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) approaching, authorities in the Visayas region have launched concerted efforts to ensure a peaceful and secure voting process. In Central Visayas, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) spearheaded the convening of the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) to outline strategies for safeguarding over seven million voters across 3,003 villages.
Similarly, the Western Visayas region activated the RJSCC while holding a coordinating meeting at the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) headquarters in Iloilo City.
Central Visayas: Focus on Security Measures
Under the leadership of Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-7 regional director, the first command conference took place at the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 headquarters in Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. This gathering aimed to establish guidelines for the setup of Comelec checkpoints as the official election period commences on August 28, simultaneously initiating the gun ban.
In attendance were representatives from various law enforcement agencies, including the Philippine Coast Guard and the Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade led by Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas. Castillano emphasized the duty of these agencies to ensure a peaceful, safe, and orderly conduct of the upcoming BSKE. He underscored the importance of collaboration between election officers, law enforcement, and government bodies to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
Western Visayas: RJSCC Activation and Security Plan
In Western Visayas, the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) was activated concurrently with a coordinating meeting at the regional headquarters of PRO-6 in Iloilo City. Atty. Dennis Ausan, Comelec Regional Director for Western Visayas, outlined the responsibilities of the RJSCC, which encompasses the Comelec, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP). This body takes charge of implementing the gun ban policy, granting exemptions, and managing security details.
Ausan emphasized that the election period begins on August 28, prohibiting certain acts, including carrying firearms, explosives, and bladed weapons without proper authorization from the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns (CBFSC). He encouraged individuals seeking to carry firearms or avail of security detail to apply online for proper authorization.
In addition to activation, the Comelec also signed a joint security plan with the Philippine Coast Guard to ensure maritime security, including the transportation of election materials to island barangays.
With preparations in motion, both regions are committed to facilitating a secure and efficient BSKE, promoting the principles of democratic participation and electoral integrity. (Reports from Philippine News Agency)
