MORE than 4,000 policemen are ready to serve as members of Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) during the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in several regions, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. yesterday said.
Acorda said the 4,429 policemen are on standby to substitute BEI members, who are usually teachers, who will not report for duty on election day for security concerns.
“PNP readiness to assume election duties transcends beyond police intervention and peace-keeping operations,” Acorda told a press briefing at Camp Crame, adding the cops are the from Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Northern Mindanao, Calabarzon, and Bicol.
“In anticipation of the possible absence of designated Board of Election Inspectors to report for duty due to security reasons, the PNP has a standby pool of 4,429 PNP personnel stationed in Bangsamoro, Northern Mindanao, Calabarzon, and Bicol who are trained to assume responsibilities as members of BEI,” he said.
“Not that these areas are perennial election flash points, but some of the parameters for the classification of election areas (of concern) are present in these localities, such as the presence of threat groups, historical data of election-related incidents and intense political rivalry, and presence of organized crime and partisan armed groups,” he also said.
Acorda said 356 of the country’s 42,001 barangays have been classified as “Red” category areas or areas of grave concern, while there are 1,196 barangays under “Orange” category or areas of immediate concern.
The rest of the barangays are under “Green” category or areas that have no security concern.
“These classifications provide us with a better perspective of the security conditions in certain areas to assist us in setting priorities for operational management in the deployment of forces and distribution of resources,” said Acorda.
Acorda said police personnel will be intensifying police operations throughout the country with the campaign period due to start on Thursday.
“We will intensify (our operations) to ensure an orderly, peaceful and honest election,” he said, adding that 800 additional policemen will be sent to BARMM to help maintain peace and order during the elections in the region.
At the same time, Acorda disclosed that 1,103 assorted firearms have been seized from 1,479 arrested violators as of October 15 in the implementation of the election gun ban since the start of the 90-day election period last August 28.
Acorda said the firearms were seized during 251,582 checkpoint operations conducted in strategic locations by the PNP, AFP and Philippine Coast Guard as of last Sunday.
“These operations to enforce the gun ban, including other law enforcement initiatives, have resulted in the confiscation of 1,103 firearms from 1,479 arrested violators as of October 15, 2023,” said Acorda.
Meanwhile, as the campaign period for the BSKE starts on Thursday, Elections chairman George Garcia on Monday advised candidates to just stick to the traditional forms of electioneering, such as putting up posters and tarpaulins, and do away with the distribution of giveaways when they go around their communities to campaign.
“Ballers, t-shirts, caps, and everything are prohibited. All forms of giveaways are prohibited, regardless if they are cheap or expensive. You don’t need these giveaways since you know one another in the barangay,” said Garcia.
“They will vote for you because they are your classmates, neighbors, friends, or acquaintances… As much as possible, what we want are only the posters that are of the correct sizes,” he added.
In its Urgent Memorandum to all city and municipal Election Officers (EOs), Comelec – Deputy Executive Director for Operations Rafael Olano stressed that the giving of t-shirts, ballers, bags, sun visors, hats/caps, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, ballpens, fans, candies, and others of value are strictly prohibited.
He added that the giving of food and drinks during and after a meeting or campaign sortie are also banned.
As for campaign posters and tarpaulins, Olano said they are allowed as long as individual posters, billboards, and tarpaulins posted in common poster area do not exceed two by three (2×3) feet.
He said campaign materials must also be not in violation of gender sensitivity principles, obscene, discriminatory, and offensive; and must bear the words “Political advertisement paid for/by ___” or the words “Printed free of charge”.
Even supporters of the barangay and SK bets are not spared from the campaign guidelines as there is a limit in the number of individuals who may wear campaign paraphernalia.
“The candidate and five of his/her campaign staff may wear t-shirt with the candidate’s picture during the campaign period,” said Olano.
This was seconded by Garcia, who warned supporters not to risk violating the campaign guidelines for the sake of their choice candidates.
“Avoid wearing campaign shirts as it may put at risk your beloved candidates. It would be unfortunate if they will be disqualified with only days before Election Day,” said Garcia.
The BSKE campaign period is set to run from October 19, Thursday to October 28, Saturday.
In a related development, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said he will not be supporting any of the city’s candidates participating in the barangay and youth polls.
Sotto said he does not want to influence the outcome of the BSKE for Pasigueños by playing favorites. — With Gerard Naval and Christian Oineza
