PNP says midterm elections ”relatively peaceful”

May 13, 2019

The Philippine National Police ( PNP) said opening hours of balloting in the country’s more than 36,831 voting centers turned out to be “relatively peaceful”.

In a press briefing, Police General Oscar Albayalde said six polling centers remain non-operational as election reached midday.

“As of this time (12 noon), out of 36,831 voting centers, a total of 36,825 or 99.98 percent have started, leaving six voting centers that are non-operational due to defective VCMs (vote counting machines) and SD ( secure digital) cards absence of election boards who were replaced by PNP personnel,” he said.

He said these six polling centers came from Lanao del Norte.

A total of 1, 501 police personnel acted as election board members in some precincts in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Bicol region, Calabarzon (Cavite- Laguna- Batangas- Rizal- Quezon), Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cordillera, and in Marikina City.

The highest number of deployed policemen as election board members were recorded in BARMM at 472 while it was lowest in Zamboanga Peninsula with 13 police personnel .

“Aside from some confusion, administrative delay and queuing during the opening hours of the elections, there were no major untoward incidents that disrupted the holding of election proper,” Albayalde said.

“Some (election board) did not come. In areas in Mindanao, it is expected especially in BARMM. That’s why (in) BARMM alone, we have more than 1,000 personnel trained by the Commission on Elections to render election duties. Here in NCR, they did not come and also in 4A (Calabarzon). It is better that we have standby trained EB personnel,” said Albayalde.

On the areas under Comelec control, the PNP chief said they have not received any report.

“So far no untoward incidents under Comelec control areas,” he said.

Meanwhile, number of election related incidents remained at 43 with 20 people recorded dead and 24 injured.

Albayalde said the PNP has arrested around 5,500 persons for violating the Comelec-imposed nationwide gun ban and 234 liquor ban violators.

“Our present level of operational readiness and vigilance will be maintained until the election process is completed,” said Albayalde.

In an early press briefing, he said they have started smoothly with 165,000 deployed police personnel.

“Hopefully this will end up to counting (of ballots) later evening without untoward incidents. With the more than 165,000 deployment, I think all the polling centers are being covered and we have quick reaction forces,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS