QCPD activates poll monitoring center

QCPD director Brigadier General Joselito Esquivel Jr. (Photo by EDWIN BACASMAS / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will deploy a total of 2,123 uniformed personnel for the May 13 polls to ensure that the elections are “safe, orderly and peaceful,” with no politician able to benefit from illegal acts.

The District Election Monitoring Action Center, which is tasked to keep watch over and supervise poll-related activities, has been operational since Tuesday, according to the QCPD.

On election day, the QCPD will put up police assistance desks in polling precincts to address voters’ concerns.

Policemen have also been deployed to ensure the safe transfer of vote counting machines from the National Printing Office to the Quezon City Treasurer’s Office, and all polling precincts.

Police Brig. Gen Joselito Esquivel Jr., QCPD director, urged the public to refrain from engaging in prohibited activities, like selling or buying votes, and accepting free food, drinks or rides to their voting precincts, that would benefit a candidate on election day.

Public support sought

“We’re asking for the public’s support in preventing illegal acts during election day,” Esquivel said, adding that the drinking and selling of liquor from midnight of May 12 until midnight of May 13 are also strictly prohibited.

Since April 23, the QCPD has been implementing “Operation Baklas,” taking down thousands of illegal election campaign materials and posters, in coordination with the Commission on Elections.

The 12 police stations under the QCPD have also conducted for the past month simultaneous anti-criminality and law enforcement operations in key areas, including going after violators of poll regulations.