BUTUAN CITY – The Police Regional Office-13, Commission on Election-Caraga, Philippine Army (PA), and Philippine Coast Guard launched checkpoints for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in the region here on Monday, August 28.
PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft, Comelec-13 Director Francisco G. Pobe, 23rd Infantry Battalion (IB) commanding officer Lt. Col. Jeffrey A. Balingao, and PCG-Caraga commander John Alfwell B. Saarenas led the launching at the 3rd Platoon, Butuan City Mobile Force Company in Barangay Bancasi.
PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft (right) shakes hands with Comelec-Caraga Director Francisco G. Pobe during the launching of checkpoints for the Barangay and SK elections in the region on Monday, August 28. (Mike U. Crismundo)
With the official start of the barangay election period, a total of 158 Caraga policemen have been deployed to secure Comelec hubs where candidates will be filing their Certificates of Candidacy.
Another 224 police officers were tapped to secure the transportation of Comelec logistics.
PRO-13 has 75 lawmen manning border control points and 1,018 were deployed as Quick Response Teams, PRO-13 Regional Public Information Office (RPIO) chief Major Jennifer S. Ometer said.
On Election Day, 2,698 police officers will be assigned to secure the 1,349 polling centers across the region, she said.
She added checkpoints have been strategically established to election areas of concern in the region.
Kraft ordered all regional, provincial and city mobile force commanders, city and police directors, as well as municipal chiefs of police to strictly enforce election laws.
“I have given my marching orders to our chiefs of offices and all station commanders to fully ensure that all actions taken are within the boundaries of the law and with respect to human rights.”
“All personnel are obliged to clearly communicate the purpose of the Comelec checkpoint to the public, explaining that it's to ensure security and maintain order,” Kraft added.
The election period also marked the start of the implementation of the gun ban based on Comelec Resolution No. 10918.
It states that bearing, carrying, and transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons are prohibited during the election period with the exemption of those who secured Certificates of Authority from the Comelec.