PNP on full alert for polls; raises police deployment to 160,000
MANILA, Philippines — The PNP remained on full alert for the May 13 polls, as it raised its deployment to 160,000 policemen to secure the public.
“The PNP remains in full alert and we have increased the number of personnel to be deployed to 160,000 personnel,” PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac said in a press briefing held at the Department of the Interior and Local Government – National Police Commission (DILG-Napolcom) Center on Thursday.
The DILG earlier raised the status of the PNP, along with the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, into full alert during the observance of the Holy Week.
The deployment of the PNP for the midterm polls was previously at 143,000.
READ: PNP to deploy 143,000 officers for May 13 polls
Banac said the PNP had not monitored any threats on the upcoming elections and that the increase in the deployment only showed the seriousness of the PNP in securing the public.
He said focused police operations for the elections would be “more active and intensified” against private armed groups, criminal gangs, wanted persons, gun-for-hire groups and loose firearms, and those who violate the election gun ban.
The PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will hold on May 7 a send-off ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo for its troops to be deployed for the midterm polls. /cbb
