The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now ready for the national and local elections, Comelec Chairperson Saidamen B. Pangarungan announced on Friday, April 8.

During his joint command conference with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and other key agencies, he said the poll body has completed the printing of ballots and is currently deploying the Voting Counting Machines (VCMs) and other election paraphernalia across the country.

Pangarungan noted that the Comelec has achieved such “ahead of schedule.”

“Alhamdulillah, I now declare that the Comelec is now ready for the May 9 National and Local Elections,” he said.

He said such was made possible by the “hardworking and competent men and women of the Comelec, and the help of our partners such as the AFP, the PNP, and the PCG.”

Meanwhile, Pangarungan called on the AFP, PNP, and the PCG to help them in their “sacred task” of ensuring the security of official ballots.

“We have witnessed in the past how security has played a major factor in the success or failure of elections. I, therefore, call on our partners the AFP, the PNP, and the PCG to once more lend us a hand in securing the ballot,” appealed the Comelec chairperson.

He added: “The previous elections for decades would not have been successful were it not of your crucial, indispensable support and involvement.”

Pangarungan has reiterated the order Pres. Duterte to him to ensure an “honest, credible, and peaceful” election on May 9.

“We trust that you will keep democracy alive by protecting the sanctity of the vote. I am sure that each of our uniformed men and women will uphold their oath to God, to country and to service,” he said.

Other agencies present at the command conference were the Department of Energy, the Department of Health, and the Department of Education.