The Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered on Thursday, Oct. 7, all its unit commanders to step up the election security in their respective areas of responsibility (AORs) in anticipation of intense political rivalries as the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) is set to end on Friday, Oct. 8.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said he expects the chiefs of police and other commanders to start the assessment and monitoring of potential intense rivalries especially in the city and municipality level.
“Ngayong nagkakaroon na ng linaw kung sinu-sino ang maglalaban-laban lalo na sa mga local elective position, inaasahan na natin ang mainitang political rivalries na posibleng mauwi sa karahasan kaya inatasan ko na ang ating mga unit commanders na umpisahan na ang paghahanda upang tiyaking walang kaguluhang mangyayari sa kani-kanilang area of responsibility (Now that it is getting getting clear who would be the candidates for May elections, I am expecting political rivarleis to heat up which may lead to violence. That is why I ordered our unit commanders to start the preparations to ensure that this will not happen) ,” said PGen Eleazar.
PNP data revealed that almost all the election-related violence in the past stemmed from intense political rivalries of candidates vying for local posts, which include clashes among the supporters.
Eleazar said that the PNP is currently reviewing and assessing the areas with history of election-related violence.
Part of the campaign to ensure honest, peaceful and orderly elections in May elections next year is the aggressive campaign against loose firearms and the accounting of private armed groups in various parts of the country.
“I also ordered our Intelligence Group to start the monitoring and background check on all the candidates who have the history, the potential and the means to sow violence as part of our aggressive efforts to ensure the honest and peaceful elections next year,” said Eleazar.
“We assure our kababayan that their Philippine National Police will do everything in its power to ensure that this entire democratic process will be protected,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chief PNP said he is satisfied with the election security measures in the past six days of the filing of COCs and Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONAs).
He reiterated his call to the political candidates to discourage their supporters from accompanying them or gathering outside the Comelec offices and other venues to avoid creating super spreader events.