2016 poll preps: PNP gears up to address loose firearms, armed groups

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Top officials of the Philippine National Police have met to discuss early the security coverage for the upcoming presidential elections in May next year.

Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., deputy PNP chief for operations, led the pre-election conference of senior PNP officials last Monday in Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Bartolome Tobias said Wednesday.

He said the primary concern of the PNP is the creation of special operation task groups to address loose firearms, private army groups, high-profile targets and threat groups.

Following the creation of SOTGs, he said election watchlist areas would be identified, validated and assessed.

Among the officials who attended the meeting were Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence, Police Director Ricardo Marquez of the Directorate for Operations, Police Director Francisco Montenegro of the Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management, Police Director Rolando Purruganan of the Directorate for Comptrollership, and Chief Superintendent Dominador Aquino Jr. of the Directorate for Personnel and Resource Management and Tobias.

During the meeting, Garbo stressed the collaboration of the PNP with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in providing security to the public and maintaining peace and order across the country.

“Part of the collaboration is the extensive utilization of the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center, as the main platform of coordination to address a wide range of security and law enforcement issues and the deployment of joint security assistance desks in all polling centers nationwide,” Tobias said.

Police also assured that maximum personnel deployment of the 150,000-strong PNP, including those attending career courses or foundation training, will be implemented. AC