500 cops deployed in Masbate for May polls

LIGAO CITY––Considered an area of concern in the May 9 polls, Masbate province was sent 500 policemen by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol.

“This is in preparation for the upcoming elections. We want to make sure that everyone is secure and safe before, during, and after the May polls,” Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said.

Calubaquib said the PNP personnel, who belong to special units, were deployed to the islands of Masbate, Ticao, and Burias.

She said increased police visibility, like the conduct of continuous checkpoints, contributes to minimizing the possibility of untoward incidents.

“We have 231 policemen from Regional Headquarters Unit-Reactionary Standby Support Force who are on training for Search and Rescue Operation, Emergency Medical Response, Response to Active Shooter, and Crowd Management in anticipation of the elections as ordered by Bicol Police Chief Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo and PNP Chief General Dionardo Carlos,” Calubaquib said.

At the end of the training on April 29, which started on April 9, the police personnel would be sent to different parts of Bicol, she said.

Asked if there were election-related crimes, Calubaquib said: “So far, based on our monitoring, negative and hoping it will remain until election day.”

She added that they had not yet recorded any incident of vote-buying.

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