The Harbor Garden Tent at Sofitel hotel in Pasay City where aspirants for national posts in the 2022 elections filed their certificates of candidacy or COCs from October 1-8, 2021. INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza
MANILA, Philippines — There was no report of any untoward incident during the week-long filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) and certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONAs) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices in Metro Manila, the regional police said on Monday.
According to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), this was because the police office exerted effort to ensure that the filing of COCs and CONAs for the 2022 local and national elections would be peaceful.
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said that this success can be attributed to the effective deployment of experienced police personnel, and their coordination with Comelec and other concerned offices.
Comelec opened the filing of COCs and CONA last October 1, and closed it by 6:00 p.m. of October 8, last Friday.
“In anticipation of the upcoming National Elections, the National Capital Region Police Office, under the leadership of PMGen Vicente Danao Jr., invigorated its effort to ensure the safety and security not just of candidates filing their COC/CONA but all other persons involved in the activity,” NCRPO said in a statement.
“On October 9, 2021, NCRPO proudly reports ‘Zero-Incident’ during the above-cited event which may be validly attributed to the effective deployment of personnel, designation of well experienced officers, establishment of MACC with Action Officers, conduct of regular critique sessions and collaborative effort of different agencies concerned,” further said.
Danao assured the public that the NCRPO’s work would continue to ensure a safe and orderly 2022 elections.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng mga tumulong sa atin upang masiguro ang maayos at tahimik na pagsusumite ng mga makikilahok ng kanikanilang COC/CONA para sa nalalapit na Pambansang Halalan,” Danao said.
(I thank everyone who helped us to ensure that the filing of COCs and CONAs of people participating in the 2022 national elections was peaceful and orderly.)
“Inaasahan po natin ang patuloy na kooperasyon ng ating mamamayan upang masiguro ang isang ligtas at payapang Halalan 2022,” he added.
(We are expecting that our people will continue to cooperate with us to ensure a safe and peaceful 2022 elections.)
Over the past few weeks, the Philippine National Police (PNP) had been busy in ensuring that no election-related violence would occur in any part of the country. This was the case especially after several attacks on political personalities or those with ties to elected officials in Mindanao.
In response, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said last September 30 that they are eyeing the deployment of Special Action Force (SAF) troopers to protect the sanctity of the polls.
Eleazar also promised that the PNP would work hard to secure other election-related events, like the extended voter registration period.