PNP launches ‘real-time’ monitoring center for May 13 polls

MANILA, Philippines — Less than a week before the May 13 polls, the Philippine National Police launched on Tuesday its National Election Monitoring Action Center (NEMAC), which will allow real-time monitoring of polling centers nationwide.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde said about 60 police personnel will man the center, which will remain active a few days after the elections.

“This will give us real-time situation on what is happening on the ground, pati ‘yung pagdeliver ng VCM (vote-counting machines) doon sa mga iba’t ibang polling centers,” he said.

“Kung gusto nating malaman kung ano ang sitwasyon doon, i-ki-click lang natin doon kung anong polling center iyan and we will know kung sino talaga ang nakadeploy doon,” he added.

According to Albayalde, the NEMAC will also allow police to know whether voting had started or ended at polling centers and if ballot boxes have been delivered to proper offices.

“Real time ito so you don’t have to go to the exact locations anymore. Pwede mong mamonitor dito,” he added.

He said polling centers that have slow internet connections may report directly to the nearest police stations, which will then communicate with the national headquarters of the PNP.

The PNP chief also expressed hope that the elections will be conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner, as election-related violence could reach its peak days before the actual polls.

“Let’s conduct this election in a very peaceful manner. Yung sakitan, yung pwede naman kahit intense yung rivalry pero wag lang magsakitan,” Albayalde said.

The PNP will field 160,000 police officers nationwide to secure the public during the elections. /muf