CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Policemen trooped to canvassing centers in their designated areas of responsibility Monday afternoon, May 13, to ensure a safe and organized accounting of election returns.

Pampanga Police Provincial Office Director Colonel Jean Fajardo said the full alert status of the Philippine National Police is up until all newly-elected officials in the province will be proclaimed.

“From the polling centers, our policemen will proceed to secure the canvassing centers to ensure an honest and peaceful counting of votes, as well as secure the security of our election officers there,” Fajardo said.

He noted that police, together with the Commission on Elections, are expecting that newly elected officials in the municipal and city levels are already proclaimed before Monday midnight, while proclamation of provincial level officials will be conducted Tuesday, May 14.

Meanwhile, Fajardo noted of a peaceful and orderly election day, as the provincial police office has not recorded any election-related crimes as of Monday noon, May 13.

“So far, the problems that we have encountered were limited to faulty vote counting machines and SD cards but were already replaced or repaired. We are hopeful that peace and order will remain until we conclude the election period,” she said.