THE PNP and Armed Forces yesterday assured the public that security measures are in place to ensure today’s elections will be peaceful and orderly.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said that while the PNP has not received any report of any threat to undermine the election, they continue to remain alert and ready.
The PNP has earlier said that around 160,000 policemen will be deployed across the country to secure the elections.
The police has also been on full alert status since last week.
Fajardo said they have “not received reports about any serious threat to disrupt the elections but we are not going to be complacent.”
“We will continue our intelligence gathering and monitoring, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, to (prevent untoward incidents),” Fajardo told a radio interview.
“We want to assure the public that the Philippine National Police is ready for us to have a peaceful and safe elections. As early as May 3, we’ve raised our alert status, we are on full alert. Our policemen have been deployed as early as last Saturday,” she also said.
Fajardo said PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has been going around over the past days to remind policemen to work towards orderly, peaceful and credible elections.
Fajardo said policemen will be some 50 meters from polling centers during today’s election unless election officers request their presence to be nearer or even inside the polling centers.
MILITARY DEPLOYMENT
Also yesterday, the Armed Forces said it is “fully prepared” for today’s national and local elections.
“We expect orderly and peaceful polls,” said AFP spokesman Col. Francel Margareth Padilla.
As to number of troops deployed for the elections, Padilla said: “Troop deployment numbers vary, with focused presence in identified hotspots and areas of concern.”
She said potential threats from terrorist groups and other lawless groups “are being addressed with appropriate contingency measures as we work in dual mode – election and combat mode.”
She said the Armed Forces leadership has given instructions to military personnel throughout the country “to remain non-partisan, uphold human rights, and support Comelec and PNP in securing the electoral process.”
“To our fellow Filipinos, your Armed Forces of the Philippines stand ready to protect your right to vote — safely, freely, and peacefully,” she said, adding that Army, Navy and Air Force units have deployed personnel and assets to help ensure peaceful, orderly and credible polls.
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said the Army has readied a contingency or standby force in Metro Manila.
He said the 329-man force is composed of Civil Disturbance Management, K-9, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Medical, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear teams.
“A total of 31 assets such as military trucks and ambulances are also placed on standby for any contingency,” he also said.
He said Emergency Response Companies of the Army have been placed under Blue Alert status from May 11 to May 14 “to deal with any contingency during the election period.”
The Army earlier said 23,591 Army personnel have been deployed to perform election-related duties across the country, and 21,509 other personnel are on standby.
“Army units are also operating under dual modes: election mode and combat mode to ensure the continuity of both electoral duties and ongoing internal security operations,” said Dema-ala.
The Air Force said 340 personnel and seven mobility assets have been deployed to key locations to support election-related operations.
“In addition, 689 personnel, 43 mobility assets, and 31 air assets remain on standby, ready to respond to any contingencies,” said acting Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma Cherry Pie Fernandez in a statement.
Fernandez said these efforts highlight the Air Force’s “commitment to ensuring a safe, secure, and orderly electoral process.”
She said the Air Force units, in coordination with the PNP and with the Comelec, are “actively involved in implementing security measures and strengthening inter-agency cooperation during the election period.”
“In line with its mandate, the PAF upholds strict apolitical conduct, maintains a high level of operational readiness, and remains vigilant in the execution of all election-related responsibilities,” she said.
The AFP Visayas Command (Viscom) said some 7,700 soldiers have been deployed across Visayas “to reinforce security measures” for the elections.
“This deployment reinforces our commitment to protect the sanctity of the electoral process,” said Viscom commander Lt. Gen. Fernando Reyeg.
“As a professional and non-partisan organization, we stand vigilant in ensuring that every Filipino can exercise their right to vote freely, without fear or intimidation,” he also said.
Viscom spokesman Lt. Col. Israel Galorio said over 4,000 of these personnel were deployed throughout Western Visayas, Central Visayas and the Negros Island region, while more than 3,000 personnel in Eastern Visayas.
“In coordination with the PNP, the AFP troops’ deployment focuses on areas categorized as areas of immediate concern and areas of grave concern,” said Galorio.
Reyeg said the troops have been strategically deployed to counter possible election-related incidents and to ensure voters can freely cast their votes.
Viscom has activated its Election Monitoring Cell which Galorio said is a “crucial mechanism to synchronize troop movements, closely monitor the security situation, and facilitate coordination among partner agencies.”
“This mechanism enables swift responses to potential threats and strengthens security forces’ capacity to sustain security and stability throughout the election period,” he said.
VOTE BUYING
The Comelec yesterday ordered the PNP and all law enforcement agencies to effect warrantless arrest for persons “caught in the act” of vote buying and vote selling.
In its Minute Resolution No. 25-0608, the Comelec en banc ordered the PNP to arrest any individual found engaged in vote buying and vote selling activities even if they do not have warrants of arrest.
“The Commission, after due deliberation, resolves to adopt the study of the Law Department on the legality of warrantless arrest in connection with the election campaign. As provided, any law enforcement officer, including those from the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation, may, without a warrant, arrest a person when, in the presence of such officer, the person to be arrested has committed, is actually committing, or is attempting to commit an election offense such as vote-buying,” said the Comelec.
The poll body said all of its personnel are directed to closely monitor those who refuse or do not comply with the directive to report to the Commission.
“All Comelec main and field officials are directed to submit a report to the Office of the Executive Director regarding anyone who is defiant and uncooperative in enforcing Comelec Resolution No. 11104 in their respective areas of jurisdiction,” it said.
It stressed that failure to comply, particularly for the PNP personnel, may result to possible liability.
“The Commission reiterates that non-compliance with the directive contained in Comelec Resolution No. 11104 is a valid ground for criminal and administrative liability,” it added.
The poll body issued the resolution after receiving information that the PNP Legal Service has issued an opinion against conducting warrantless arrest for vote buying activities.
In an interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia stressed that PNP personnel must comply with the directives of the poll body since they are deputized agents of the poll body.
“Their actions are the actions of the Comelec. Our instructions as principals bind the agents. Therefore, these are our orders. We need to stop and arrest individuals engaged in vote buying,” said Garcia.
He said there is a need to take stronger actions against vote buying as it is considered as the biggest irregularity in every electoral exercise.
“It is really unfair for those without money, those that don’t buy votes, those who exerted efforts to campaign, and those that campaigned based on platforms. It’s unacceptable that they will lose just because there are those that used other means to get the votes,” he said.
So far, he said the Comelec – Committee on Kontra Bigay has received 500 reports of vote buying incidents, with some 200 already issued show cause orders.
He said they expect more vote buying activities in the remaining hours before Election Day.
“We have monitored vote buying activities nationwide like in Quezon City, Zamboanga City, Bataan, and Laguna, among others,” he said.
Fajardo said the PNP has intensified its efforts against vote-buying and vote-selling, noting that they have received reports about the occurrence of such malpractice.
“We cant allow (vote-buying and vote-selling) to influence the elections,” she said even as she appealed to candidates to refrain from such activities.
“Let us allow the public to freely elect leaders,” she said.
BASILAN
The military last night said two persons died and another was injured during a clash between supporters of mayoral candidates Talib Pawaki and Muhammad Hassan in Hadji Mohammad Ajul town in Basilan yesterday.
The Army’s 11th Infantry Division (ID) said the clash occurred in Barangay Langil Island.
It said one died on the side of Pawaki, who is seeking reelection, and one on the side of Hassan.
The military said one was injured on the side of Pawaki.
Pawaki is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, while Hassan is running under the Basilan Unity Party.
The military’s Joint Task Force Orion responded by activating its intelligence and civil-military coordination mechanisms “to contain the situation, prevent escalation, and secure the area.”
“The said incident is currently assessed as politically motivated and election-related,” the 11th ID said.
The military said it “remains steadfast in its mission to protect the integrity of the electoral process, deter armed threats, and ensure the safety of the voting public.”
ABRA
The AFP Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) yesterday said soldiers apprehended 31 individuals for illegal possession of firearms during an election-related military operation in Pidigan town in Abra on Saturday.
NOLCOM spokesman Al Anthony Pueblas said troops from the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade proceeded to Barangay Laskig after a concerned civilian reported the presence of armed men in the area.
“The government forces were en route to the reported site when they intercepted six vehicles. Upon inspection, 10 individuals were found in illegal possession of several high-powered firearms, including four M16 rifles, one Bushmaster rifle, and five .45 caliber pistols,” said Pueblas.
He said 21 more individuals were apprehended near the area during the operation for possession of two .45 caliber pistols.
Pueblas said the suspects were turned over to the custody of the Pidigan police station for “further investigation and appropriate legal action.”
Citing information from the PNP, Pueblas said the number of suspects was already down to 20 as of yesterday morning. He could not immediately say why the other suspects were cleared.
Pueblas reaffirmed NOLCOM’s commitment to “maintaining peace and order in the region and encouraged residents to continue report any suspicious activities in their communities.”
BATANGAS
Meanwhile, a PNP pursuit operation against a vehicle that ignored a checkpoint in Taal, Batangas on Saturday led to the death of a resident and recovery of two firearms, and shabu, among others.
The Calabarzon police regional office said a Mazda 3 car, with plate number ZCG 629, was flagged down by policemen manning a checkpoint in Barangay Ilog on Saturday afternoon.
Instead of stopping, the car sped off, prompting policemen to conduct hot pursuit operation.
The car hit two vehicles in Barangay Muzon in Sta. Teresita town before crashing into a sugar plantation in Barangay Irukan, also in the same town.
It said the car hit a civilian, Manuel Gamo Lalog, at the sugar plantation. The victim later died.
Police said the driver of the car escaped and is now subject of a follow up operation.
During inspection, policemen found inside the car some 85 grams of shabu, an M3 submachine gun, a Smith and Wesson Magnum .357 revolver, two magazines, 19 rounds of ammunition, and a holster.
LIQUOR BAN
Maj. Hazel Asilo, spokesperson of the National Capital Region Police Office, said 14 individuals were apprehended in Navotas City and Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro yesterday for violation of the liquor ban.
Eight of the violators were apprehended in Navotas City at around 4 a.m.
“We received a report about eight liquor ban violators who were apprehended in the area of Navotas. We apprehended eight for violation of the liquor ban,” said Asilo.
In Calapan City, six liquor ban violators were apprehended at around 2:30 a.m. in Barangay Tawiran.
“They were immediately apprehended and are now in police custody for appropriate legal action,” said Mimaropa police director Brog. Gen. Roger Quezada.
“This early enforcement activity shows that we are not taking any chances. We will implement this law without fear or favor,” Quezada said, adding the public should take seriously the liquor ban, which he said is “is part of our broader efforts to maintain peace and order during the elections.”
“Respect for the law, discipline in our communities, and shared vigilance are key to ensuring safe and credible elections for all,” said Quezada.
DEPED COMMAND CENTER
The Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday activated its election command center with nationwide support teams for today’s conduct of the midterm national and local polls.
Unlike previous elections where the monitoring center is located at the DepEd Central Office in Pasig City, its Election Command Center is at TechZone, Makati City and will be operational until 5 p.m. of May 13.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the monitoring center will ensure rapid, 24/7 response to the needs of teaching and non-teaching personnel serving in this year’s elections.
“The Department stands firm in protecting our teachers and ensuring that they are never alone as they carry out this vital civic duty. With the full support of the President and the trust of the Filipino people, we are ready to respond, assist, and uphold the integrity of this election,” Angara said during the activation of the monitoring facility.
The command center, according to Angara, will serve as the national coordination hub of the DepEd Election Task Force (ETF).
And for the first time, the ETF is operating with a dedicated line under the General Appropriations Act, with a budget of P99.3 million to support the department’s election-related operations.
The ETF, Angara said, mobilizes specialized teams across the country for real-time monitoring, legal support, hotline and help desk operations, incident response, and post-election reporting. – With Gerard Naval, Christian Oineza and Ashzel Hachero
