MANILA -- Top officials from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Philippine National Police (PNP) visited security checkpoints in various areas in Metro Manila as the gun ban and election period for the barangay elections started Friday midnight.
The Comelec said signages for security checkpoints should be uniform in size and visible to motorists.
Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes explained why tighter security is needed in the barangay polls.
"Dahil barangay ito, mas personal ang labanan -- magkakapitbahay, magkakamag-anak. Kaya medyo binabantayan natin, saka ano ito manual... Dito kailangan natin tutukan ng konti, babalik na naman tayo sa dating gawi eh," he said.
Although the checkpoints caused traffic to stall in some areas, authorities appealed for patience.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr. said, "Humihiling po tayo ng pag-unawa sa ating mga kababayan, sa inconvenience na madadala ng checkpoints at kooperasyon na rin po nila."
Some motorists, meanwhile, welcome the added security despite the inconvenience.
Checkpoints also immediately proved their worth after police in Pasay City helped a taxi driver who was being robbed by two men who posed as passengers.
"Nakita ko na may checkpoint tapos kinabig ko ng kaliwa tapos sinigaw ko holdap. Naglapitan ang mga pulis," said taxi driver Romeo Gala.
Confiscated from the robbers were a grenade and an ice pick. -- Report from Carolyn Bonquin, ABS-CBN News
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
