140,000 cops to be deployed on election day
Metro Manila, Philippines - About 140,000 police personnel will be deployed in the May 12 midterm polls, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday, April 25.
The police officers will be deployed in 37,528 voting centers.
PNP Director for Police Community Relations PMGen Roderick Alba said 7,943 cops were trained as part of the electoral board. Of which, 3,774 will be sent to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where the violent incidents have been recorded.
“Very extensive na ‘yung measures na ginagawa natin [are the measures we are undertaking] to maintain the safety and security of everyone. Ang [Our] focus natin ngayon [now] is to enhance our police presence, coordination with other agencies under the deputation purview of the Commission on Elections (Comelec),” Alba said in a press briefing.
“Nagsimula na ring mag-deploy ang ating personnel in terms of delivering paraphernalia related to election,” he added.
[Translation: Our personnel have also started deployment in terms of delivering paraphernalia related to the election.]
Despite their preparations, the police are taking into consideration “factors that may disrupt” the polls, such as intense political rivalry.
Areas of concern
As of April 15, there are more than 300 areas listed under election concern.
Of the figure, 185 are classified under yellow category or areas with a history of election-related incidents; 139 are under orange category or areas with threat of violence; and 34 are under red category or areas with both a history of election-related incidents and with threat of violence.
Two areas, meanwhile, are under Comelec control.
The PNP said there are fewer areas of concern this year compared to the 844 in 2022 and the 941 in 2019.
Election-related incidents
Based on latest data, the police logged 58 election-related incidents ahead of the midterm polls.
Thirty of the incidents were validated; eight are suspected; while 28 were verified as not related to the elections.
The PNP said the tally is also lower than the previous elections.
