Cops on standby for poll duties as Maguindanao Norte town placed under Comelec control

Police Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac, commander of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, has placed sufficient number of police maneuver forces for possible deployment in Datu Odin Sinsuat town of Maguindanao del Norte after it was placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Banac said the deployment may include possible election duties, but emphasized that they will wait for the official decision of the Comelec on the matter.
“The PNP regional, provincial and city mobile forces are ready for law enforcement and public safety operations in Datu Odin Sinsuat in support of Comelec de facto local government functions in the municipality,” said Banac who also heads the Special Task Force Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Earlier, Comelec chairman George Garcia disclosed that they will be placing the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat under their control after its election officer Maceda Abo and her husband Jojo were killed last month in Barangay Makir.
Police are still conducting investigation to determine the motive and identify the perpetrators.
The move, according to Garcia, was aimed at ensuring that there will be peaceful and orderly midterm elections on May 12.
Banac said all resources and personnel of STF BARMM are under the highest state of readiness to perform election security duties as required by Comelec.
He said they also maintain close operational coordination with the military and the Philippine Coast Guard units stationed in BARMM.