Almost 12,000 police, military personnel to secure polls in Bicolandia

ZERO VIOLENCE POLLS. Thousands of soldiers and policemen that will be deployed to secure the conduct of the national and local elections in Bicol region on May 9 were sent-off in a ceremony Wednesday, May 4, at Legazpi Domestic Airport in Legazpi City, Albay. (Michael B. Jaucian, Inquirer Southern Luzon)

LEGAZPI CITY – Almost 12,000 personnel from various units under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) tasked to secure the conduct of the national and local elections on May 9 in the Bicol region were sent off in a ceremony on Wednesday, May 4.

In a simultaneous multi-agency send-off ceremony of security forces held at the old domestic airport here at 7:30 a.m., troops were presented to lawyer Maria Juana Valeza, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Bicol Election Director.

The 11,974 state forces from the military and police will be deployed to different towns and cities in the six provinces of Bicol region for the duration of the electoral exercise.

They will stay in their areas of assignment until the release of the results of the elections.

Major General Alex Luna, Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division commander, said 4,022 soldiers from Army, Navy and Air Force will be deployed in various areas.

“The Joint Task Force Bicolandia will maximize and stregthen the security through checkpoints and combat patrolling in critical areas in order to protect the polling precincts from any violence,” he said.

Brigadier General Mario Reyes, Bicol police director, said the deployment of 7,952 police officer will ensure the safety of the voters, political candidates and the board of election inspectors (BEI) who will be on duty.

“As I always reminded them (policemen) just use and apply your training, experience and common sense, nothing will go wrong. Let’s go for zero election incidence,” Reyes stressed.

Valeza thanked and commended the troops for the admirable service for the protection of the citizens in the country, especially during elections.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education in Bicol said that the polling precincts are 100 percent ready to welcome voters.

The agency said there are 48,000 teachers to assist the BEIs during the conduct of the polls.

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