PNP says doing everything to secure next week’s elections

May 6, 2019

The Philippine National Police ( PNP) said it is their duty to ensure all security measure are in place for next week's midterm elections.

In a press briefing on Monday, Police General Oscar Albayalde debunked the claim of the Commission on Elections ( Comelec) that the reason for broken seals of trucks where vote counting machines ( VCMs) and other Comelec paraphernalia are placed is because of checkpoint operations.

Last week, Baguio City police with the PNP regional director was called out by Commissioner Rowena Guanzon for allegedly inspecting the VCMs.

“You know, there are no problem with us if we go different hubs. When we go to different hubs because of security reasons, we want to ensure the security of the place so that it will not be stolen and tampered,” Albayalde said.

“We have directives for all the commanders to secure the different hubs actually so don’t take it negatively if the commander went there. What we want to ensure there is the security, nothing else. We can’t check the election materials in the hub,'' he added.

He said they are not authorized to open those vehicles without permission from the Comelec.

“First, our police personnel know that if they going to checkpoint (with) election paraphernalia, they will not open it especially if sealed. I think it’s better to ask the Comelec or whoever delivered if it was inspected, opened.

I’m sure it’s not the police who will ask you to open these things because it is not authorized,” said Albayalde.

Albayalde added that the forwarder is seeking police escorts.

In an interview with Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, he said the incident between them and police personnel from Baguio City was just blown out of proportion.

“We are still investigating it. I think it was just sensationalized”, Jimenez said in an interview with The Daily Manila Shimbun.

Albayalde said there will be around 1, 404 police personnel ready in case some teachers decide not to do report for duty during the election.

“We have preparations just in case some teachers will not render duty as electoral board. The Comelec trained 1, 404 PNP personnel nationwide that will render duty as election board members in case they are needed,” he said.

Albayalde said they recommended the placing of Moises Padilla (Negros Occidental) town under Comelec control due to intense political rivalry.

“Although they said it is approved in principle but Comelec has yet to sign the resolution,” he said.

Based on their record, there are still 943 election hotspots where 543 are under the red category, 243 under orange category, 155 under yellow category and two are under Comelec control.

Albayalde said around 55 percent of their personnel will be deployed in different voting centers and some will be used as quick reaction forces and stay-behind forces.

“In fact, almost all PNP including those undergoing training ( will be used). The training was suspended effective May 3 and all these personnel undergoing training will be deployed in the different provinces or in their respective unit where they came from to render election duties,” he said.

He reiterated that trainees will only man stations.

Albayalde said they have not received any threat so far a week before the elections.

The National Capital Region Police Office also presented 1, 498 confiscated firearms to Albayalde.

“One week before the 2019 midterm elections in May 13, the NCRPO has effectively reduced the possibility of election-violence by taking away 1, 498 firearms from the hands of unauthorized individuals and criminal elements,” said Albayalde.

NCRPO also arrested 1,104 person in relation to the Omnibus Election Code in Metro Manila. Around 670 pointed weapons, five grenades, 22 explosives and 3,226 ammunition were confiscated.

Based on their latest data, around 5,000 loose firearms were confiscated and around 4,100 were arrested nationwide since January 13.

As of May 6, around 27 election related incidents were reported.

Albayalde said these number is lower compared to the 2013 and 2016 elections due to the cooperation of candidates, other law enforcement agencies and the public. Ella Dionsio/DMS