Top government law enforcement agencies met with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday, April, 8 and discussed all the security preparations that need to be implemented across the country to ensure credible and peaceful national and local elections next month.
The joint commander conference held at Camp Aguinaldo was attended by Gen. Andres Centimo, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Police Gen. Dionardo Carlos, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Admiral Artemio Abu, commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard and Comelec chairman Saidamen Balt Pangarungan.
Centimo said the joint command conference served as a venue to discuss updates on the deployment of vote counting machines, official ballots, and other election equipment, supplies, and paraphernalia by Comelec.
Security updates were presented by the AFP and PNP as attendees were also apprised by the energy sector, electoral boards, and the Inter-Agency Task Forces for the Management of Emerging and Infectious Disease.
“With the campaign period for both national and local posts in full swing, now more than ever, we in the AFP implore troops deployed all over the country to remain vigilant against entities that may threaten or prevent our citizens from safely exercising their constitutional right to vote the next leaders of our nation, including our local government executives,” said Centino.
The joint command conference also paved the way for the signing of the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council (JPSCC) which provides the policies and guidelines of the member agencies, as deputized by the COMELEC to conduct peace and security operations ensuring safe, accurate, free, and fair elections.
Based on the policies that were agreed during the meeting, the PNP will be responsible to take the lead role in law enforcement operations, including investigation and assist the Comelec in the prosecution of election related cases.
The PCG, on the other hand, will take the lead in law enforcement operations in coastal or maritime areas.
"In the conduct of joint operations involving suppression of insurgency and other serious threats to national security, the AFP will be at the helm with PNP and PCG in the support role," said Centino.
Soldiers, policemen and Coast Guard personnel will provide security to polling places, including election materials that will be used in connection with the elections. They will also provide security to Comelec personnel, its deputies and other persons performing election-related functions as well as make available land, air and watercraft assets, communication systems and other equipment to assist the commission.
Government forces will also look into the existence of and prevent any armed group organized to commit acts of terrorism and threats to intimidate or coerce any person to vote for or against a candidate.
Also in attendance were duly-authorized representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Energy and Department of Education.