Marcos okays deputation of military, police for Aug. 31 Caloocan plebiscite

BALLOT CAST A resident votes at Gayonga Elementary School in Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao during Saturday’s plebiscite on a law dividing Maguindanao into two provinces. —File photo from TAHER SOLAIMAN

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday approved the deployment of military and police officers for the August 31 plebiscite in Caloocan City.

Under Memorandum Order No. 31 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on August 27, Marcos concurred with the request of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to deputize soldiers and cops in Caloocan City for a plebiscite ratifying the division of Barangay Bagong Silang into six separate barangays.

“Now, therefore, I, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., President of the Philippines, … hereby concur with the Comelec’s deputation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and other law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government in connection with the 31 August 2024 plebiscite to ratify the division of Barangay Bagong Silang in the City of Caloocan into six separate and independent barangays,” the order read.

Marcos then directed law enforcement agencies and other agencies concerned to cooperate and coordinate with the Comelec.

READ: Caloocan prepares for plebiscite on division of barangay Bagong Silang

Based on Section 17, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, the Comelec may deputize military and police officers to ensure an orderly elections, subject to the concurrence of the President.