By Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA CITY - The police in Zamboanga peninsula are appealing to
candidates of the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to
report any acts of extortion done to them by lawless elements in the duration
of the election period.
Regional police director Chief Supt. Juanito Vaño in a
press statement said that the candidates should not “give in to the extortion
demands” and instead, immediately report to the police or military such
incidents.
According to the statement, “previous elections had
(sic) been characterized by intense political rivalries, rampant vote-buying,
extortion activities by threat groups and other factors affecting the peaceful
conduct of the elections.”
Moreover, Dir. Vaño said that aside from the
above-mentioned incidents, some candidates may also use private armed groups to
coerce the populace to vote for them. Residents are warned not to be intimated
by this, and to report such incidents as well.
