It pays to prepare early.
Just a few days after he assumed the leadership of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, Maj. Gen. Bernie Banac has started the security preparations for the midterm and local elections for next year.
In an interview, Banac said he already directed the three police regional offices under his watch—the Police Regional Offices 9, 12, and the Bangsamoro Administration Region, to start their security preparations in the run up to the registration and campaign period for the 2025 elections.
“It is imperative for all police units in Western Mindanao to continue to intensify their operational readiness to prevent, and respond against, any acts of terrorism, insurgency, and smuggling,” said Banac.
“They should also be capable of quickly responding to any disaster, calamity or emergency that may occur in all parts of Western Mindanao,” he added.
Western Mindanao is a perennial security concern every election. In the past, intelligence reports revealed that most of the threat groups and private armed groups are monitored in Mindanao.
Banac said the early preparation is part of the instruction of national police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil to lay down the strong security measures as the Philippine National Police aims to reduce, if not totally, wipe out election related violence especially in western Mindanao.
He said coordination is now being made with the Commission on Elections, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and even the Philippine Coast Guard.
“This is part of our goal of ensuring a peaceful, orderly and honest polls next year,” said Banac.