Palace on poll destabilization: Authorities ready to uphold peace, order in PH

FILE PHOTO: Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines — The government and the country’s uniformed personnel are ready to maintain peace and order during the conduct of the May 9 elections, Malacañang assured on Tuesday following allegations of a possible destabilization attempt during the polls.

“Handa ang ating pamahalaan at ang ating uniformed personnel na panatilihin ang kaayusan sa bansa,” acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said in a Palace briefing.

(Our government and our uniformed personnel are ready to maintain order in our country.)

The Palace’s remarks came in the heels of the alleged  possible attempts to destabilize the May 9 polls, as claimed by presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Lacson earlier said that they received reports about voters being subverted on election day itself.  However, he refrained from sharing details of the information as the reports are not yet validated.

For its part, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will look into the claims of Lacson, despite not monitoring any threats to the 2022 general elections.

Presidential candidate Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso also earlier claimed  that a coup d’état will be likely if either the “red” or “yellow” wins in the May 9 polls – and presented himself as “the alternative.”

Moreno did not mention anybody, but he was apparently alluding to the current and past campaign colors of his fellow presidential candidates former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Leni Robredo, respectively.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in his regular public address on Monday night, vowed to enforce the law and not allow terrorism during the May 9 elections.