PNP starts planning for safer elections in 2022

PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. (Photo from the PNP Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed on Wednesday that it would ensure safer elections in 2022 through new equipment and selection of police officials.

In a statement, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief, noted that the police would get an additional 10 helicopters and 50 high-speed boats within three years.

He said this would boost the police force and its visibility to secure the 2022 elections.

Albayalde added that PNP preparation for the 2022 elections would include the selection of officials who will be part of the PNP Task Force.

He said most of the current police generals and other senior officials would retire in 2022.

Meanwhile, the PNP deputy chief for operations, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, said the three-year preparation for the 2022 national and local elections would aim at the following:

• ensuring that there would be no failure of elections
• reducing and preventing of election-related incidents
• reducing the threats posed by private-armed groups, gangs, and terrorist groups

Gamboa said the PNP would implement “Oplan Baklas,” a campaign to remove illegal campaign items.

He also mentioned that part of the preparation is the selection of a new roster of police officials who would take the helm of the PNP Task Force as most of the current police generals and other senior officers would retire by 2022.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)