Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar ordered on Thursday (Oct. 7) all unit commanders to start mapping out election security plans in their respective areas of responsibility as intense political rivalries are expected to heat up at the local level after the filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2022 national and local elections.
“Ngayong nagkakaroon na ng linaw kung sinu-sino ang maglalaban-laban lalo na sa mga local elective position, inaasahan na natin ang mainitang political rivalries na posibleng mauwi sa karahasan.
“Kaya inatasan ko na ang ating mga unit commanders na umpisahan na ang paghahanda upang tiyaking walang kaguluhang mangyayari sa kani-kanilang area of responsibility,” Eleazar said.
PNP data show that almost all election-related violence in the past stemmed from intense political rivalries of candidates vying for local posts, including clashes among supporters.
Eleazar said the PNP is currently reviewing and assessing the areas with a history of election-related violence.
Part of the campaign to ensure honest, peaceful, and orderly elections in May next year is the aggressive effort against loose firearms and the accounting of private armed groups in various parts of the country.
“I also ordered our Intelligence Group to start the monitoring and background check on all the candidates who have the history, the potential, and the means to sow violence as part of our aggressive efforts to ensure honest and peaceful elections next year,” Eleazar said.
“We assure our kababayan that their Philippine National Police will do everything in its power to ensure that this entire democratic process will be protected,” he added.
Meanwhile, the PNP chief said he is satisfied with the election security measures taken over the past six days of the filing of COCs and certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONAs).
He reiterated his call to political candidates to discourage their supporters from accompanying them or gathering outside Comelec offices and other venues to avoid creating superspreader events.
“Nananatiling tahimik at maayos ang filing ng COCs at CONAs sa buong bansa, at patuloy na nakahanda ang inyong kapulisan upang tiyaking walang kaguluhang magaganap sa natitirang dalawang araw ng prosesong ito,” Eleazar said.
The deadline for the filing of COCs and CONAs is on October 8.
(PNP-PIO) – jlo
