22K police deployed on Election Day

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ILOILO CITY — The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has deployed a total of 8,398 police personnel to man polling precincts and secure strategic and high-risk areas in Western Visayas.

"The integrity of this year's midterm elections will be a defining testament to the police service," said PRO-6 director BGen. Jack Wanky.

"The collective safety and security we strive for also hinges on our communities' support," he added.

SEND-OFF CEREMONY Col. Dwight Alegre, acting provincial director (center), and Cavite Provincial Election Supervisor Mico Morales-Castro (third from left) hold a simultaneous multi-agency send-off ceremony of security forces and resources for the national and local elections at the covered court at Camp BGen. Pantaleon Garcia in Barangay Poblacion 1-B on May 8, 2025. PHOTO BY DENNIS ABRINA

The province of Iloilo has the highest number of deployed police personnel with 3,274, followed by Antique with 1,344; Capiz, 1,303; Iloilo City, 1,089; Aklan, 1,022; and Guimaras, 366.

Wanky reminded all police personnel to remain apolitical and neutral throughout the election period.

He emphasized that political partisanship has no place in the Philippine National Police, and that officers are sworn to serve the public, not political interests.

"We are 100 percent ready. We remain dedicated to protecting peace and order in Western Visayas. Therefore, we must be alert at all times," Wanky said.

The police chief also called on the public and candidates to stay vigilant and cooperate with authorities.

It can be noted that PRO-6 has deployed additional personnel to Antique and Iloilo to meet the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) requirement of two police officers per precinct.

In Iloilo City, the Comelec has completed the final testing and sealing of all 417 automated counting machines (ACMs), along with 58 reserved of contingency machines.

The ACMs are now secured at 66 voting centers and will be deployed to 417 clustered precincts across the city at exactly 12:01 a.m. on May 12.

Meanwhile, Lawyer Pinky Tentativa, election officer of Comelec-Iloilo City, said they are ready for any technical issues that may affect the ACMs, in addition to having contingency machines on standby.

"We are ready because first of all, we have a technical hub in the Provincial Office in Comelec and at the same time, we have our deployed Department of Election and Canvassing Operations Technical Staff," she told The Manila Times.

One challenge Comelec anticipates on May 12 is the early voting hours, where some regular voters might insist on voting during the designated time for priority groups.

Early voting hours from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on election day, are reserved exclusively for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women.

"We remind our voters that it's exclusive to our vulnerable sectors," she added.

Tentative added that PWDs with non-apparent disabilities must present their IDs to vote during early voting hours.

12K policemen deployed in Central Luzon

More than 12,000 police officers from the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) have been deployed in various polling precincts in Central Luzon since May 4 as part of the heightened security and preparedness for the polls.

According to BGen. Jean Fajardo, regional director of PRO-3, the "massive deployment of our police officers is part of our mandate to ensure a safe, free, and accountable election."

"We are focused not only on the security of the precincts, but also on protecting the rights of every voter," she added.

Cavite PNP holds send-off ceremony

The Cavite Police Provincial Office, led by Acting Provincial Director Col. Dwight Alegre, and Comelec Cavite held a simultaneous Multi-Agency Send-off Ceremony of Security Forces and Resources for the polls at the Covered Court of Camp BGen. Pantaleon Garcia in Barangay Poblacion 1-B.

Part of the sendoff were police officers, augmentation personnel from other agencies and other advocacy support groups who joined efforts to prevent any untoward incidents and manipulations during elections.

The Cavite PNP deployed a total of 2,453 PNP personnel, 57 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel, 21 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel, 46 Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel, 38 Regional Support Unit (RSUs) personnel, and 257 other advocacy support groups.

"We deployed personnel from provincial headquarters, other friendly forces, and government agencies effective today to secure the May 2025 National and Local Election (NLE)," said Alegre.

The deployment will boost operations, checkpoints, service of search and arrest warrants for illegal possession of firearms, and violation of the Comelec gun ban as well as vote buying.

Lawyer Mitzele Veron Morales-Castro, Provincial Election Supervisor 4, thanked the Cavite PNP and other agencies, advocacy support groups for the continuing support and protection of the sanctity of the ballots.

She gave her deepest gratitude and highest respect for the hard work of every member of the deployed personnel.