CIDG deploys probe teams nationwide to help in case build-up for poll-related offenses
At A Glance
- Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said the deployment is part of the overall objective of ensuring peaceful and credible midterm elections.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) deployed investigation teams across the country to assist local police units in case build-up against election-related offenses that include vote-buying and vote-selling.
Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said the move is part of the overall objective of ensuring peaceful and credible midterm elections.
He said each team will be headed by an officer.
“They are tasked to provide investigative assistance to territorial police units for election related incidents and violations of the omnibus election code including election offenses- vote buying and vote selling,” said Torre.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil earlier ordered all police units to intensify the operations against any attempt to influence the result of the elections, particularly private armed groups and those who would engage in vote-buying.
Police started the operations against vote-buying on May 9 and encouraged the public to report vote-buying and vote-selling schemes through the PNP’s E-911 hotline.
More than 163,000 police were tapped to secure the elections. They are reinforced by more than 200,000 personnel from various law enforcement agencies.
Torre, for his part, said that the CIDG operations against other threats to elections will continue.
“While the investigation teams are deployed for conducting the probe, the operatives and manhunt teams are launching operations against ‘guns, goons and golds’ to ensure a safe and fair election,” said Torre.