The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) passed a resolution yesterday, April 22, 2016 requesting the Police Regional Office 7 for more uniformed personnel to augment the current police force in the province as the group seeks to boost security during the May 9, 2016 polls and the days leading to it.

The resolution was signed at the Governor’s Mansion by the PPOC which is headed by Governor Edgar Chatto.

The PPOC requested for 500 more uniformed personnel as the current 988 additional police officers are not enough to implement the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) order of posting at least two policemen in every voting precinct.

There are more than 1,500 police personnel in the entire province with each police station having at least 21 officers.

Two policemen will be assigned to secure 1546 precincts in the province while the others will be tasked to overlook the delivery of election paraphernalia.

Officers under the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) will also be deployed to bolster security during the elections.

To augment the police force in municipal stations, other police units including members of the Highway Patrol Group, Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), PPSC-SWAT, and the Regional Public Safety Maneuver Company will be designated in various locations across the province.

Members of the Philippine Army in Bohol led by Col. Arnulfo Matangguihan of the 302^nd Infantry Brigade and Lt. Col. Dodjie Belloga of the 47^th Infantry Batallion will also be deployed to help in providing security.

The Bohol police will prioritize the deployment of police forces before and during the polls in areas in the province that are under the COMELEC’s Election Watchlist.

The Bohol COMELEC and BPPO continue to tighten security amid political battles to ensure safe, peaceful and clean elections, the goal of both group’s SAFE (Secure and Fair Elections) 2016 initiative. (with reports from Rey Tutas)