BSKE 2023: 187,600 cops deployed; PNP on full alert Saturday
PNP Chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. on Friday said that raising the status to full alert means that 100% of the police force will be doing their assigned roles in securing a safe environment during the electoral process. (Photos by PNP and Comelec)
MANILA, Philippines — With its personnel already dispatched nationwide for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on October 30, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will go on full alert starting Saturday.
According to PNP Chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. on Friday, raising the status to full alert means that 100% of the police force will be doing their assigned roles in securing a safe environment during the electoral process.
“The full deployment of 187,600 PNP personnel for election duties will commence tomorrow, Saturday, October 28, 2023, with the alert status elevated to full alert,” he said in a press briefing.
He also said that some areas are already on full alert earlier than Saturday. The alert status can be at the discretion of the ground commanders, depending on the peace and security situation prevailing in their respective areas.
Acorda added that in areas of concern, particularly those under the Commission on Elections, additional human and logistical resources are allocated to ensure a seamless BSKE.
Meanwhile, aside from the reported election-related shooting incidents in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Masbate, the police chief said their threat assessment shows that peace and order is generally observed in the country.
“We are giving assurance that we are on the top of this situation, and kontrolado po ang peace and order,” Acorda noted.
(We assure the public we are on top of this situation; peace and order are under control.)
“Our message to the public is clear: election day will remain under our control, and we will not tolerate any disruptions or threats to the peaceful exercise of your right to vote,” Acorda said.
