Sunstar: More cops deployed to Passi City in Iloilo

Following a shooting incident involving eight supporters of a mayoral candidate there, Western Visayas police have deployed a platoon of policemen to Passi City. Sun-Star Iloilo (www.sunstar.com.ph) reported Sunday night that Iloilo provincial police head Senior Supt. Melvin Mongcal confirmed that 30 policemen were deployed to Passi City and to the towns of Dumangas and San Enrique. "This is an additional force not for Passi alone but for other places in the district also. Our policemen are fully armed and well equipped to preempt the possible violence. This is part of our preemptive scheme to at least avoid untoward incidents," Mongcal said. He added the 30 policemen is only part of the 6,000 policemen being deployed by the PRO6 to secure the 3,975 polling precincts in the region. Last Wednesday, eight persons believed to be supporters of mayoralty candidate Powell Palmares shot three supporters of Passi Mayor Eliezer Chavez. The suspects shot Chavez supporters Eby Fabila, Ronald Sumagpao and Charlie Alconada, who were then riding in two motorcycles. Initial investigation showed the suspects were armed with M-16 rifles and cal-.45 pistols and cal-.38 revolvers. - GMANews.TV