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THE National Police expects that the May 14 elections would
be less violent than others.
Those killed in the 2004 elections (144) were more than those
killed in 2001 (86).
To minimize violence in this year’s polls, the National
Police has implemented a campaign against loose firearms
as well as licensed weapons that have no Commission on
Elections (Comelec) permits.
Director General Oscar Calderon, National Police chief,
reported that the first 30 days of the election gun ban
yielded 451 different types of guns, 27 explosive
devices, 74 bladed weapons, and the arrest of 527
violators. “And we are still counting. In the coming
days as the elections come nearer, the drive will be
further intensified.”
In another facet of polls, to prevent the politicization of
the military, measures have been taken to finally shield
soldiers from the blandishments of politicians.
The Armed Forces announced Thursday that all military camps
are off limits to political campaigns and warned all
soldiers and civilian personnel against “openly” or
publicly campaigning for certain candidates or face
stiff penalties.
Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Armed Forces chief of staff,
said Article 16, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution
prohibits members of the Armed Forces from engaging
either directly or indirectly in any partisan political
activity except to vote.
Esperon also called attention to an agreement they had with
the Comelec. “Further the memorandum of agreement
between the Armed Forces and the Commission on Elections
on October 2006 was entered into in the spirit of
ensuring the insulation of the Armed Forces from
partisan politics.”
He issued these guidelines to put into action the insulation
of the military from partisan politics: entry inside
camps of any political candidate without distinction
except for official business is banned; display of
posters, leaflets, stickers and banners of any political
candidate inside military camps is banned; Armed Forces
personnel including civilian employees are prohibited
from endorsing or campaigning.
The National Police is also pursuing the criminal cases
against offenders. Field reports culled by the National
Election Monitoring and
Action
Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City indicate a total of
444 separate violations of Comelec rules.
The action center through the police Legal Task Force is also
monitoring the progress of 151 criminal cases filed in
court against offenders, and 267 other cases still under
investigation.
Among the latest gun ban violators were nine suspected
henchmen of a
Northern
Luzon politician who were arrested at a checkpoint for
possession of assault rifles and explosives.
Metro
Manila
accounted for 93 separate incidents of violation of gun
ban yielding 69 firearms, two explosives and 40 bladed
weapons. The nationwide gun ban is in effect until June
13, 2007.
In another issue—the indiscriminate posting of billboards and
posters—San Juan,
Metro Manila Mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito appealed to
all candidates to spare the town from their campaign
materials or place them on Comelec designated areas.
The appeal, Ejercito stressed, is for both the administration
and opposition candidates.
With C.
Cordero |
