ANTIQUE — A total of 3,265 policemen have been deployed across Western Visayas as part of security measures as candidates for the May 2025 elections started filing their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) on Tuesday, October 1.
POLICE secure a mall in San Jose de Buenavista town, Antique province on Tuesday, October 1, as the filing of Certificates of Candidacy for the May elections starts. (Tara Yap)
The Police Regional Office-6 disclosed that all units are on top of security measures to keep the COC filing until October 8 orderly and peaceful.
PRO-6 chief Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky said that around 300 policemen were deployed in COC filing centers.
Wanky cited the Commission on Elections for partnering with key malls such as Robinsons and Festive Walk in Iloilo City as venue for the COC filing as these are more easy to secure due to their own private security.
Police have also been deployed to man checkpoints as well as provincial capitols, city halls, and municipal halls.
The province of Iloilo has the biggest deployment with 931 personnel securing 42 towns and the component city of Passi.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office is second with 706, 397 in Capiz province, 363 in Antique province, 344 in Aklan province, 201 in Iloilo City, 186 in Bacolod City, and 137 in Guimaras province.