THE POLICE Regional Office–Cordillera (PRO-COR) is set to arrest personalities who will interfere during the election on May 14.
PRO-COR director Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza during the Regional Joint Security Control Center Command Conference held at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cordillera Compound said the police will exercise its mandate to arrest those who will cause disturbance during the election.
"Everything was presented and all polling centers will be manned, all route of ballot boxes and election paraphernalia's will be escorted by the Philippine Army and up to the proclamation of winners in the barangay level, this will be guarded by PNP and AFP," Carranza said.
A total of 4,539 candidates in the Cordilleras are vying for barangay captains, 14,568 for kagawads, 2,409 for the Sanguniang Kabataan chairman and 4,837 SK Kagawad.
Carranza ordered all police on election day to be vigilant and not allow any interference by any group or individuals.
"I have ordered all policemen in the region no to allow any interference during the elections. If anyone would interfere in the Monday election, the marching order coming from President (Rodrigo) Duterte during our national command conference last Monday is to arrest these personalities," the Cordillera top cop said.
Brigadier General Milfredo Melegrito, AFP Deputy Commander for Northern Luzon, also assured the command’s full support for the coming Monday barangay polls.
Based on the election watchlist released by PRO-COR, Baguio’s 59 precincts will be allotted 219 Police and AFP personnel.
Comelec, together with the PNP and the AFP, has been closely monitoring several villages due to intense political rivalries particularly in Abra, Kalinga, and Mountain Province.
Comelec regional director Julius Torres said one of the priority measure is the assurance there would be no power interruption on May 14 which the National Grid Cordporation of the Philippines and the Benguet Electric Cooperative have assured barring any unforeseen circumstances.