PNP: Local campaign period peaceful so far

Election graphics by INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The first day of the 40-day campaign period for local candidates was generally peaceful with no major untoward incident reported across the country, according to the Philippine National Police.

“The local campaign period started on a generally peaceful and orderly mode on Friday. We hope that this favorable condition will hold for the succeeding days of the campaign period until the last day of the local campaign on May 7, or two days before the 2022 National and Local Elections on May 9,” PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said in a statement on Saturday.

Unless his term is extended by President Duterte, Carlos is set to retire a day before election day, or on May 8, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Carlos made the assessment after receiving field reports of real-time situation updates from police regional offices through the PNP Command Center at its headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The PNP chief reminded candidates vying for more than 18,000 local elective posts that all campaign activities are prohibited on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, which fall on April 14 and 15, respectively.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier said more police and military troops were deployed in 40 to 50 areas across the country, considered as election hot spots.

The Commission on Elections has yet to release the list of areas in the country considered as election hotspots.

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