Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to enforce extreme measures to ensure the safety of the political candidates in the May 2025 midterm elections.
He issued the order in following his call to the public and candidates to make sure that the coming midterm polls are “peaceful and the process of democracy will be followed.’’
“I don’t believe in violence as a means of conflict resolution, iyong ginagamit ang violence sa politika ay pinakaayaw ko ‘yan. Lalo na ngayong eleksyon, magdo-doble ang effort ng PNP to safeguard the security of all our candidates (using violence in politics is one thing I hate so much. Especially in these elections, the PNP will be on double time mode to safeguard the security of all our candidates),’’ Remulla stated.
Remulla also warned that police officers found guilty of partisan politics “will be prosecuted but assured that “due process of law is observed.’’
“You have seen my record. I have a very low tolerance for malfeasance lalong-lalo na sa PNP (Philippine National Police) (especially with the PNP),” Remulla said.
Remulla also expressed full backing to the “Kontra Bigay” campaign spearheaded by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), saying that this should go hand in hand with a Kontra Tanggap drive.
“Dalawa dapat ‘yan eh, campaign Kontra Bigay at campaign Kontra Tanggap. Two sides ‘yan eh. Dapat magkasama ‘yun (There should be twin moves, Kontra Bigay and Kontra Tanggap campaigns. There are two sides. They should go hand and hand),’’ Remulla noted.
The DILG chief insisted not believing “in vote-buying’’ even during his time as a Cavite local official.
Earlier, the DILG has identified a total of 34 election hotspots with 27 of them are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) “following the first and highly contested autonomous election in the said region.’’
“Areas of concern under BARMM, very contested. First time nila magkakaroon ng Autonomous election, (First time an autonomous election will be held), so that’s very contested,” Remulla noted.
Remulla said that the other election hotspots include two areas in Eastern Visayas and four in parts of Luzon.
As part of the security measures, Remulla noted that 6,327 checkpoints are now strategically positioned nationwide where 86 firearms have already been confiscated since the start of the Jan. 12 election gun ban course of action was enforced.
The DILG chief assured the public that additional police units will be stationed in these hotspot areas to ensure the viability and integrity of the 2025 midterm election.