Despite the reported threats and violent incidents in the First Congressional District, the May 14 elections was relatively peaceful, the Oriental Negros Police Provincial Command headed by Senior Supt. Ramon Melvin Buenafe said.

The provincial command, in its assessment report submitted to the Regional office in Cebu, said that there were no recorded casualties or election related violence during the conduct of elections. There were several reports of violence which, when investigated, turned out to be false reports, the PNP-Oriental Negros said.

Close monitoring of the Commission on Elections-Philippine National Police checkpoints led to the apprehension of two armed men along Barangay Malangsa, Vallehermoso town allegedly working for a mayoralty candidate in the town, the report said.

The suspects, on board on a motorcycle, were identified as Mario Cruspero and Ferdinand Labay. Confiscated from them were one M16 rifle, one magazine for M16 rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, flashlight, and two cellular phones.

They were charged with violations of Republic Act 8294 or illegal possession of firearms, and the election gun ban, at the Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Guihulngan.

Both, however, posted bail at P84,000 each.

On the day before the elections, another person was caught carrying a .22 caliber magnum during a mauling incident in Sto. Niño, Tanjay City, the report said.

The suspect identified as Egie Abrasaldo, escaped after beating up the victim, Alfonso dela Cruz.

On the day after elections, the PNP Tanjay recovered a .45 caliber pistol with two magazines, and a holster allegedly owned by a certain Ian Rojo. The gun was recovered at the polling precinct in Barangay San Isidro, in Tanjay.*MA

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