DAVAO CITY – Almost 3,000 security personnel have been tapped to safeguard the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan  elections (BSKE) here on October 30.

Police Capt. Hazel Tuazon, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson, said 1,876 are DCPO personnel and 1,072 are augmentation from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao and other agencies.

She said that a security plan has been laid out for the elections.

They were deployed starting Tuesday, October 24, to all polling precincts and other areas that need heightened police visibility.

“We need everyone’s cooperation and help during this time so that chaos will be prevented on the day of the elections,” Tuazon said.

According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Davao, 47,637 individuals from 1,162 barangays in the Davao region filed Certificates of Candidacies from August 28 to September 2.

The Comelec said 2,932 are running for barangay chairman, 25,587 for barangay councilor, 3,050 for Sangguniang Kabataan chairman, and 16,068 for SK kagawad or councilors.

The poll body recorded 9,519 candidates in Davao de Oro, 10,030 in Davao del Norte, 8,030 here, 9,239 in Davao del Sur, 3,568 in Davao Occidental, and 7,251 in Davao Oriental.

Authorities have been implementing a three-month gun ban for the election period from 12:01 a.m. on August 28 to November 29.

Tuazon said their personnel have been deployed to various checkpoints to monitor the entry of vehicles and ensure that no firearms would not be brought here.

Under Resolution 10918, the Commission, unless authorized, prohibits the bearing, carrying, or transporting firearms and other deadly weapons outside residence or place of business, and in all public places; employing, availing, or engaging the services of security personnel and bodyguards; and transporting or delivering firearms and explosives, including its parts, ammunition, and/or components.

Section 261 (q) of the Omnibus Election Code penalizes “any person who, although possessing a permit to carry firearms, carries any firearms outside his residence or place of business during the election period, unless authorized in writing by the Commission.”

The resolution also states that a violation of any prohibited acts during the election period “constitutes an election offense punishable with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years without probation, permanent disqualification to hold public office, and deprivation of the right of suffrage.”