It will be policemen who will serve as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) in the conduct of special elections in 12 barangays in Lanao del Sur, a ranking police official said on Thursday, May 19.
Police Maj. Gen. Valeriano De Leon, director of the Directorate for Operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the policemen were among the almost 1,000 trained by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as BEIs.
"We are now coordinating with the Comelec and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to ensure that no new failures of election would be declared in any barangays," said De Leon.
Local Comelec officials declared failure of elections in 12 barangays in Tuburan town on May national and local elections due to security issues.
De Leon stated that they are now sketching out steps to prevent unscrupulous local politicians from utilizing flying voters.
In various areas of Mindanao, the use of flying voters has always been one of the biggest challenges affecting the integrity of elections.
"We want to avoid flying voters, we don't want any violence in the precinct, and we want to accommodate as many registered voters as possible in the area," said De Leon.
He also warned armed groups who are attempting to sabotage or influence the conduct of the polls that the PNP is prepared to foil any of their schemes.