13,000 cops to serve in Bicol region for May polls

LEGAZPI CITY — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy over 13,000 policemen in the six Bicol provinces in preparation for the May 13 national and local elections.

Brig. Gen. Arnel Escobal, Bicol police director, said that the deployment of 5,724 additional police force would guarantee a safe, orderly and peaceful May elections.

Escobal, in an interview, said the deployment of the police force would focus its security preparations in the 82 identified election areas of concern in the provinces of Masbate, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon.

He said the additional 7,404 policemen would serve as force multipliers to man the different police assistance centers set up in various towns and cities to receive and address concerns during the election period.

The deployment of personnel came mainly from the PNP regional mobile force command and various police units from the regional office. /ee