CEBU CITY – The eight-day period for the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) in Central Visayas was generally peaceful, the top police official in the region said on Wednesday.
Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7), said the filing of COCs “was very peaceful and orderly, with no security-related incidents recorded.”
“I commend everyone on the ground for the safe and secure filing of COC. The focus now shifts to our heightened security preparations for the upcoming elections,” Aberin said in a statement.
He said PRO-7 deployed almost 3, 000 personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) in all areas in Central Visayas, including places of convergence in the security coverage.
Police units, he said, also established 24/7 checkpoints to ensure the safety of the candidates and their supporters who accompanied them during the filing.
Aberin said PRO-7 is now making a threat assessment in order to identify aspirants who require appropriate security coverage especially during the campaign for the mid-term polls on May 12, 2025.
The PRO-7 is closely coordinating with the Commission on Elections and other stakeholders in the security sectors to ensure that all possibilities are taken into account in formulating security measures for the upcoming election period.
He said that an assessment is also being initiated to determine areas that need stricter security for possible adjustments in the deployment of police and military personnel.
Omar Sharif Dilangalen Mamalinta, election officer in Carcar City, agreed that the province saw an orderly filing of COCs.
“We have not heard of any untoward incidents reported in the election offices in Cebu,” Mamalinta told the Philippine News Agency. (PNA)