The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sept. 30 that 36,000 cops would be deployed to maintain peace and order during the filing from Oct. 1 to 8 of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the May 2025 midterm polls.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that security measures would be heightened and checkpoint operations would be intensified in strategic areas during this period.
“We are not just keeping a close watch on the candidates, it also includes their relatives and supporters. As we have said, local elections are more intense than national elections so we are keeping an eye on that,” she said in a press conference.
While the PNP would remain on a normal alert status, Fajardo said police commanders on the ground may opt to raise the alert level in their respective jurisdictions should the need arise.
“Chief PNP, Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, also wants to keep a close watch on potential PAGs (private armed groups) which can be used to sow violence. The order of our chief PNP is to make sure that these potential PAGs won’t be used especially at this early stage of filing of candidacy,” she added.
Police Regional Office 6 director, Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, said that 3,265 cops from various units of the PRO6 will provide security during the filing of COCs.
PRO 6 data showed that around 265 will be detailed in venues for the filing of the COCs, and the rest of the 3,000 police force will be deployed to help in traffic management and providing security on the streets.
“We all know that tomorrow, Oct. 1, is the start of the eight-day filing of COCs, and our security preparations are all set. We will be deploying around 300 personnel regionwide in designated areas where the COC applications will be catered or accepted,” Wanky said in a Philippine News Agency report.
He said they have also visited local government units and appealed to those who would be candidates to ensure fairness during the elections. “Let us not employ illegal tactics. Help us in maintaining a peaceful, honest, orderly conduct of elections.”
Wanky added they also received a directive for the reassignment of police officers in their areas of assignment who are related by affinity and consanguinity up to the fourth degree to candidates running for elections.
He said that while police officers are professional, it would be better if they get reassigned so that there would be no malice on their part. They can be assigned either in stations where they are needed, or at the provincial police office as a reserve force.
“That will be determined during the deployment and end employment of police officers. After the elections, automatically, they will return to their mother stations,” he added.
The country’s anti-insurgency body has also appealed to poll aspirants to take a definitive stand against armed struggle and commit to peaceful solutions to societal problems.
National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) executive director Ernesto Torres Jr., in a statement, underscored the importance of a shared vision for peace and development and urged all candidates to reject violence and embrace dialogue.
“We are living in a democratic society, and anyone has the right to run for office as long as he is qualified,” he added.
Torres said it is crucial for all Filipinos to know that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) has been designated as a terrorist group under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
He touted the body’s ongoing awareness campaigns that expose the deceptive tactics employed by the CPP and its armed wing, the NPA. “We hope that our partners and stakeholders will continue to educate the public about the CPP-NPA-NDF’s manipulative tactics. We want to ensure that those who serve our country do not believe in violent ways of resolving conflict.” ||
