More than 1,600 policemen have been mobilized to secure polling precincts in Negros Occidental, as the entire police force nationwide went on full alert during the weekend, in connection with the election today.

The heightened security also involves police operations to secure vital and critical installations as well as infrastructure, and key government installations against possible hostilities from the New People's Army and other lawless groups.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, yesterday reminded policemen to be neutral, apolitical and non-partisan.

He also ordered the arrest of persons engaged in vote-buying.

Suspected NPA guerillas briefly harassed an Army detachment in Brgy. San Isidro, E.B. Magalona on Saturday night, but no injury was reported, Lt. Col. Felicisimo Budiongan, Task Force North commander, said.

On Thursday, about 30 rebels ambushed members of the rmy's 33rd Reconnaisance Company, killing two soldiers and injuring two others in Brgy.Pinapugasan, Escalante City.

Two companies of the 11th and 61st Infantry Battalions composed of 200 men, were also placed on standby by the 303rd Infantry Brigade to augment the police force in Negros Occidental, in case of any emergency situation that may arise during the May 14 polls.

The Negros Occidental police has been instructed to extend assistance to representatives of international organizations who are observing the election in Pulupandan.

As Comelec deputies, members of the PNP are tasked to provide security to candidates, election officers, polling precincts and election paraphernalia. Military personnel are barred from doing these, as stipulated in the memorandum of agreement signed between the Department of National Defense and the Comelec.

Franco also reminded policemen to be 50 meters away from the polling precincts. Should there be any problem within polling centers, he suggested that policemen seek a written authority from Comelec to enter the area.

The Police Regional Office 6 also dispatched an additional 285 men to reinforce the NOPPO personnel in securing Negros Occidental polling precincts.

Camp Crame had earlier released funds to the 17 regional police offices for the supplemental three-day subsistence allowance period --- before, during and after the May 14 elections, for policemen performing election duties .*GPB

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