EPD expects peaceful election day in east Metro but full alert remains

MANILA, Philippines — Eastern Police District (EPD) director Brig. Gen. Christopher Tambungan said he expects a peaceful election day in the eastern part of Metro Manila but added that his officers will still remain vigilant for possible threats.

“Expected na peaceful but kami we will not lower [our] guards… kasi baka mamaya mabulaga kami may pumutok [na threat],” Tambungan told INQUIRER.net at the EPD Headquarters in Pasig City on Friday.

“Hindi ako pwedeng mag-relax. We will not lower our guards kasi baka biglang biglain kami dito just in case na biglang pumutok may appropriate action na kaming gagawin,” he added.

Tambungan also said there are no election hotspots and intense political rivalry in their area.

“Wala tayong election watch areas, wala rin tayong hotspot — not even intense political rivalry,” Tambungan said.

The EPD chief also assured the public that they will deploy reserved forces in cities of eastern part of Metro which are Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina and San Juan (PaMaMariSan) in case of untoward incidents.

“Sa district, may reserved [forces] tayo dito. Ready to respond in any eventualities in any given time in PaMaMariSan,” he said.

EPD will deploy 2,853 police officers during the May 19, 2019 midterm polls.

The EPD will specifically deploy 110 police officers in its District Election Monitoring and Action Center, 68 in the district’s city halls, 728 in voting centers, 120 in quick reaction forces, 266 in checkpoints, 217 in civil disturbance management units, 51 in border control checkpoints and 1,081 as reserved forces. /muf