By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
MANILA – Two days before the elections, the Philippine National Police (PNP) declared it is on full alert, deploying more than 160,000 officers nationwide to ensure a peaceful and orderly election process and its aftermath.
PNP Director for Police Community Relations Maj. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba said the PNP “is all hands on deck” and ready to respond to any eventualities before, on and after the May 12 elections.
Alba said that aside from the more than 160,000 deployed on election day, “a “sizable number” of reserve forces in every PNP headquarters are on call and ready to augment the number if necessary.
Aside from securing peace and order in polling areas, the PNP-Anti Cybercrime Group also joins patrols on election day to keep watch against possible spying activities.
Around 370 areas of concern have been identified, down from the more than 800 listed in the polls.
As of May 8, the PNP has apprehended some 2,863 gun ban violators, 195 of whom were arrested at checkpoints.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil previously visited Police Regional Office 8 in Leyte and Police Regional Office 7 in Cebu to personally oversee the final stages of election security preparations.
“Our mission is clear: Deliver secure, accurate, free, and fair elections. Zero election-related violence. That is our goal, and we will achieve it through unity, discipline, and unwavering commitment,” he said.
Contingency forces
In addition, the Philippine Army is prepared to augment the security forces on the ground with its contingency force, composed of the 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 placed on standby while the Philippine Army emergency response companies are under blue alert from May 11 to May 14.
Various Philippine Army major units have deployed 23, 591 personnel to perform election duties across the country while another 21,509 personnel are on standby alert.
Army units for the 2025 polls are operating under dual modes — election mode and combat mode — to ensure they perform electoral duties while sustaining internal security operations.
“We are committed to maintaining national stability by continuing our operations against threat groups while also assisting with the transport of poll materials and ensuring the safety of election personnel,” Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said in a statement.
Vote buying
At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, the PNP reported at least 18 people are facing charges in five regions for alleged vote buying/selling.
PNP-Public Information Office chief Col. Randulf Tuaño said instances of vote buying and vote selling were reported in Ilocos Region, Calabarzon, Davao, Bicol, and Cordillera Administrative Region.
“Sa five cases na nangyari, ang suspects na na-file-an ng kaso ay 18 (Of the five cases, we have filed charges against 18 persons),” he said.
Most of the cases involved handing out groceries or aid 10 days before the elections.
Last week, the PNP said charges were filed against a group caught with PHP1.5 million of cash.
During election season, moving large amounts of money is prohibited.
Several reports of vote buying across the country are under active investigation and appropriate charges will be filed against violators as evidence warrants, the PNP said.
The PNP had been beefing up its “Kontra Daya” (Anti-Cheating) campaign, in full support of the Commission on Elections and in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for clean, honest, and credible elections. (With reports from Lloyd Caliwan, Priam Nepomuceno / PNA)
