NCRPO says security efforts during midterm polls in Metro were successful

MANILA, Philippines — Despite some incidents of violence, vote-buying, and harassment, security efforts in Metro Manila during the campaign period and during the May 13 midterm polls were successful, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Guillermo Eleazar on Friday said.

In the NCRPO’s accomplishment report, Eleazar said these untoward incidents “were efficiently addressed by our police units together with other security and peacekeeping agencies.”

More than 16,000 police officers were deployed throughout the metropolis during the midterm polls Eleazar said. Some 413 additional NCRPO personnel were also deployed to the National Board of Canvassers at the Philippine International Convention Center to safeguard the conduct of the vote count.

In addition, Eleazar said the five police districts of the NCRPO also placed police desks near  polling centers and checkpoints in Metro Manila. The police districts also intensified the implementation of search warrants, Oplan Sita, Oplan Bakal, as well as Oplan Galugad, which resulted in the numerous arrests and seizure of various illegal firearms.

Throughout the election period, a total of 52,418 random checkpoints were conducted in the Metro, which led to the arrest of 44 suspects. The NCRPO also killed seven armed motorcyclists who were “presumably wanted characters” in police checkpoints, Eleazar said. Twenty-six firearms, bladed weapons, and other ammunition were also seized and recovered.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,318 police operations were conducted, including serving of search warrants, warrants of arrest, police patrol response and Oplan Bakal or Sita and Galugad wherein 1,312 persons were arrested, 74 were killed and 5,970 firearms, bladed weapons, grenade, explosives, and other ammunition were confiscated.

Eleazar thanked the NCRPO’s partners, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Commission on Elections, other security agencies and volunteers.

He also congratulated and commended the men and women of the NCRPO “for their courage, hard work and the extra effort.”  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)