THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has raised the number of personnel who will be deployed for election duties on May 13 to 160,000.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Bernard Banac said the initial number of police deployment for the election was 143,000.

This was raised to 160,000 to boost the peace and order management before, during and even after Election Day.

Banac said police operations for the upcoming elections would focus, among others, against private armed groups and gun-for-hire, criminal gangs, wanted persons and loose firearms.

The PNP has been on full alert since early April, even before the Holy Week.

Despite the increase in police deployment, Banac reiterated that the PNP has not monitored any threats against the upcoming election.

"Wala naman tayong natatanggap na threats sa halalan. We want to ensure no untoward incident will take place," Banac said. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)