The Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed all its entire units under the highest security alert status as millions of Filipino voters troop to voting precincts to cast their vote for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) on Monday, Oct. 30.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the declaration of the full alert status comes with the deployment of more than 187,000 policemen that the national police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. has committed to ensure peaceful, orderly and credible barangay elections.

“The PNP is now on highest security alert level. We already upgraded to full alert and the 187,600 policemen that we committed were already deployed. Our reactionary forces are also now on standby,” said Fajardo.

The PNP’s reactionary forces will be tapped in areas where there would be an immediate needed for more policemen.

Part of the police forces placed on standby, according to Fajardo, are those who were trained by the Commission on Elections as Board of Election Inspectors, adding that they would be deployed in case there would be security concerns in particular areas.

“We prepared a very long time for this and our prayer is that we would be able to address every possible risk factors that could influence the result of the elections,” said Fajardo.

So far, she said the remaining challenge is ensuring the peaceful conduct of elections in 361 barangays which were classified under Red Category. 

Almost 2,500 other barangays are under Orange and Yellow categories, which also means that there are possibilities of election-related violence. 

Interventions 

Acorda said they have initiated intervention measures to deny any group or individual to influence the result of the elections, including the setting up of checkpoints and strict implementation of gun ban.

As of Oct. 27, more than 1,922 gun ban violators were already arrested while 1,454 firearms were confiscated.

The PNP, under the supervision of the Commission on Elections, are setting up around 6,400 checkpoints across the country every day.

Acorda also ordered all police commanders to relieve and re-assign all policemen whose relatives are seeking for elective posts. More than 3,000 policemen were also affected by the order.

The Chief PNP also committed to assist the Comelec in implementing the money ban, or the withdrawal and movement of cash amounting to more than P500,000 to prevent vote-buying.

Remain apolitical

Acorda also reminded all policemen to ensure that they would not side with any candidates to ensure the integrity of the barangay elections.

“We should remain apolitical, we should remain non-partisan,” said Fajardo.