Over 18,000-strong frontliners from PNP, AFP, DepEd, others report to Comelec

Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Over 18,672 frontliners from different agencies assigned to the 2022 national and local elections reported before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said in a report.

According to PNP’s Public Information Office (PNP-PIO), the simultaneous send-off of frontliners featured 18,672 personnel from PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Department of Education (DepEd), and other concerned agencies nationwide.

In the program at PNP’s headquarters in Camp Crame, 596 PNP personnel, 400 AFP personnel, and 100 each from the PCG and the DepEd were present, where frontliners and equipment that would be used for the May 9 polls were blessed.

PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos and Comelec Chairperson Saidamen Pangarungan were physically present during the event, while Coast Guard Admiral Artemio Abu, AFP Chief of Staff General Andres Centino also gave solidarity messages.

“The PNP, as one of the deputized agencies of COMELEC, has started all security preparations as early as May 2021. Your Philippine National Police planned ahead and took all considerations for any contingency,” Carlos said.

“Your Philippine National Police will be present to perform before, during, and after the elections and we are staying focused on the task ahead,” he added.

The PNP chief further said that the entire police force would also be contributing to securing the elections.

“So we will stand strong, we will finish strong and we will perform professionally for a peaceful elections. The 225,000 strong men and women of the PNP are one with Comelec and other members of the security forces to make sure that we guard the votes of the Filipino nation. This is our commitment,” Carlos assured the public.

“And to the Filipino people, your PNP will be there in all polling center and voting precincts to make sure that your votes will be counted,” he added.

The entire PNP has been busy in recent days as one of the deputized agencies of the Comelec.  Earlier, Comelec and PNP announced that more areas have been placed under Comelec control, now including Pilar town in Abra and the entire Misamis Occidental province.

READ: 8 more areas placed under Comelec control 

READ: Police force in Abra town relieved for ‘bias,’ says Comelec 

JPV