All systems go for Monday’s polls—PNP

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police said Friday all security measures are in place for the upcoming midterm elections on Monday.

“At the level of our national office, we’ve done our part,” Deputy Director General Ager Ontog Jr., PNP deputy chief for operations and Task Force SAFE (Secure and Fair Elections) commander, said in a press conference in Camp Crame.

Under PNP’s Oplan Last Two Weeks, a 30,000-troop augmentation from the national and regional headquarters has been deployed to conduct election security operations.

Police would also escort the transport of PCOS machines and election materials to the polling precincts nationwide via accredited freight forwarders, said Ontog.

PNP units have also been instructed to be on guard Saturday, the last day of the campaign, which is historically marred by “last-ditch” election-related problems, he said.

“We have given our regional offices enough personnel,” Ontog said.

TF SAFE is now monitoring actions being taken by regional offices nationwide, he said.

Since the start of the election period in January, TF SAFE has recorded over 3,000 arrests for violation of the Commission on Elections nationwide gun ban rule.

It has also “neutralized” 117 private armed groups, and recovered 234 firearms.