181,000 policemen assigned to secure polls

About 93 percent of the 195,000 policemen have been assigned to secure the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on May 14, 2018. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

About 93 percent of the country’s police force has been deployed nationwide to secure this year’s barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde said Monday.

In a press briefing, Albayalde said the PNP deployed 181,000 of the 195,000-strong police force to the ground as it beefed up security for Monday’s elections.

Of the 181,212, 73,562 PNP personnel manned 36,781 polling centers nationwide, he said.

The police chief said 13,267 troops comprise the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) at police regional offices, while 2,854 RSSF at the national headquarters.

Meanwhile, 89,529 personnel are assigned to quick reaction teams placed on highest alert to

The PNP has been on full alert since 6 p.m. Sunday.

The voting for the 2018 barangay and SK polls started after polling precincts opened at 7 a.m. Monday. /cbb

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