The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said security measures are in place to ensure the successful conduct of the special plebiscite on the renaming of the province of Compostela Valley to Davao de Oro on Saturday.
PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said PNP officer-in-charge, Lt Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, through the PNP permanent liaison with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), has assured the readiness of the Compostela Valley Police Provincial Office under Col. Joselito Loriza, to perform official functions as deputized agents of Comelec for this plebiscite.
“The PNP high command has alerted the PNP Regional Office in Southern Mindanao, particularly the Compostela Valley Police Provincial Office (PPO), to provide all available assistance as deputized agents of the Commission on Elections for the holding of a special plebiscite,” Banac said in a statement.
He said the ComVal PPO will be primarily responsible for enforcing rules and regulations of the Comelec, particularly the implementation of the province-wide gun ban, liquor ban and other rules against prohibited acts.
The other Police Provincial Offices and Regional Mobile Forces under PRO-11 were also alerted to provide possible augmentation to ComVal for this security operation.
Under Memorandum Order (MO) 42 dated November 28 but released on Tuesday, Duterte concurred with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the deputation of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for a referendum on the renaming of Compostella Valley to Davao de Oro province.
"Pursuant to Section 2(4), Article IX-C of the Constitution, the Comelec is empowered to deputize, with the concurrence of the President, law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, including the AFP, for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections," Duterte said in the memorandum.
"By virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, [I] hereby concur with Comelec Resolution No. 10616, deputizing the AFP, the PNP, and other law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, in connection with the 07 December 2019 Plebiscite in the Province of Compostela Valley," he added.
On April 7, 2019, Duterte signed Republic Act 11297 renaming Compostela Valley to Davao de Oro.
Presently, Compostela Valley is the only province in Davao Region that does not bear the name "Davao."
The Davao Region is composed of Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Davao Occidental.
Under RA 11297, changing the name of Compostela Valley to Davao de Oro will need the nod of a majority of residents of the province through a plebiscite that will be conducted for its eventual ratification.
Duterte's MO 42 directs law enforcement agencies and other concerned agencies to "coordinate and cooperate with the Comelec in the performance of their duties and functions."
The memorandum, signed by Duterte on November 26, takes effect immediately.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1087909
No comments:
Post a Comment