Philippine National Police now in full alert as millions of Pinoys cast vote for BSKE

This news has been read 1503 times!

MANILA, Philippines, Oct 29, (Agencies): As millions of Filipino voters prepare to head to the polls for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) scheduled for Monday, Oct 30, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is taking significant security measures to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.

Under the directive of PNP spokesperson Col Jean Fajardo, all PNP units have been placed under the highest security alert status. This move coincides with the deployment of over 187,000 police officers, a commitment made by National Police Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr, to guarantee an orderly and violence-free voting process.

Fajardo emphasized the readiness of the PNP, stating, “The PNP is now on the highest security alert level. We have already upgraded to full alert, and the 187,600 policemen we pledged have already been deployed. Our reactionary forces are also on standby, ready to respond when needed.”

These reactionary forces will be available for immediate deployment in areas requiring additional police presence. Some of the standby police personnel, according to Fajardo, include those who have been trained by the Commission on Elections to serve as Board of Election Inspectors, ready to address any security concerns in specific areas.

“We have been preparing for this for a long time, and our goal is to mitigate all potential risk factors that could impact the election results,” Fajardo added.

The primary challenge remains ensuring the peaceful conduct of elections in 361 barangays classified under the “Red Category.” Additionally, nearly 2,500 other barangays are categorized as “Orange” and “Yellow,” indicating the potential for election-related violence.

Gen Acorda disclosed that various intervention measures have been initiated to prevent any group or individual from influencing the election outcomes. This includes the establishment of checkpoints and strict enforcement of the gun ban. As of Oct 27, more than 1,922 gun ban violators have been apprehended, with 1,454 firearms confiscated.

The PNP, working under the supervision of the Commission on Elections, has set up around 6,400 checkpoints across the country on a daily basis. Acorda has also directed police commanders to reassign and relieve any officers whose relatives are running for elective positions, impacting over 3,000 policemen.

Furthermore, Chief PNP has committed to supporting the Commission on Elections in enforcing the “money ban,” which prohibits the withdrawal and movement of cash exceeding P500,000 to curb vote-buying. These measures collectively aim to uphold the integrity and security of the forthcoming elections.

This news has been read 1503 times!