PRO-NIR deploys 310 police for Negros Oriental polls

The Police Regional Office for the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) will deploy 310 additional police officers from Bacolod City to ensure security during the May 12 elections in Negros Oriental.

Brig. Gen. Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director, announced at a meeting on Monday that the reinforcements will be sent three days before the election and will include units from the Philippine National Police (PNP), such as the Special Action Force and Regional Mobile Force Battalion.

Other government security forces, including the Philippine Army, Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, are also collaborating to secure the elections in Negros Oriental, which has two red zones, one orange zone, and several yellow areas identified for additional security measures during the election period.

Despite temporarily pulling out 310 policemen from Bacolod City, Comelec-NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano assured that peace and order will still reign in the city during the elections.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expected to release a new list of areas of concern next week, which will guide the deployment of security forces in priority areas.