A TOTAL of 2,997 policemen, military, rescue groups, augmentation, and personnel of other concerned government agencies will be deployed for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on May 14 in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.
2,328 of the total number were policemen from Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) of Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6), and police stations.
On May 11, these security forces were sent off to their various posts as preparation for their duties on the Election Day. They will check the water facilities, electricity, and fences in their respective areas to determine and address possible problems.
Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, public information officer of BCPO, said that 517 police officers will be utilized in all 45 voting centers in Bacolod City while 84 personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod, and 585 members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (Cdrrmo), and other rescue units will be on standby, a day prior to the election day.
Vargas said that BCPO will also use 31 mobile patrol cars, seven fire trucks, 10 ambulances, 59 motorcycles, 54 handheld radios, and 12 base-radios for a quick response and immediate communication.
Vargas said they are expecting that the election will be peaceful because there are no Election Watch list Areas (Ewas) identified in the city. However, police are directed to prepare for the influx of voters in some voting centers.
She said that six policemen will be assigned to each voting center to provide security and order in their respective areas.
For crowded voting centers, policemen can provide assistance if there is a written request from the Board of Inspectors (BOI) because uniformed personnel is not allowed to hold or transport any election paraphernalia to avoid malice, Vargas said.
Vargas said a quick react team will also be stationed in all 10 police stations for immediate response in case of untoward incidents.
Strategic strong control points composed of seven teams from various units mostly comprised by Bacolod Mobile Force Company will be on standby to augment with the existing personnel at the stations, she added.
Vargas said these policemen will return to their regular posts once the election is finished.
Meanwhile, Vargas said two BCPO personnel with relatives who are running in this year's election were reassigned to different police stations as part of the procedure. They will return to their original posts after the election.
In Negros Occidental, 177 Nocppo personnel, 80 from BCPO, 160 from RPHAU, and 1,394 from the different city and municipal police stations will be placed in all voting centers in the province.
There were also contingents from BFP-Negros Occidental and Provincial Mobile Force Company.
Additional forces from the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and Regional Mobile Force Battalion will also be augmented to the security forces.
During the send-off ceremony at Nocppo headquarters yesterday, Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., director of Nocppo, reminded policemen to stay "neutral" or remain "non-partisan" in the democratic process, respect human rights at all times, strictly observe police operational procedures, display or show professionalism, competence, and discipline during security operations, do one commendable act a day, and hope and pray for a safe and secure election.
"Barangay election is only three years while you (police officers) will always continue to serve the public even if the terms of these village officials were already finished," Castil said.
"Do not sacrifice your profession in any election-related situation," he added.
Castil also reminded them to be 30 meters away from the voting centers.
He said that more forces were assigned in 80 villages that were identified under Ewas. They already coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Army.
All police stations in the province have designated quick reaction teams for immediate response in coordination with the military troops.
Castil said they are not discounting possible movement from the reds as the election is approaching but he assured that they are prepared.
Provincial elections supervisor Jessie Suarez, in his speech, said that policemen should not compromise their career and independence as protectors of the democracy.
"Protect the democracy and will of the people," Suarez said, as he urged policemen to be friendly and amenable to voters, candidates, and other people while they render their duties.
Suarez is expecting that this year's election will be clean, honest, and successful, as he advised the law enforcers to cooperate and coordinate with the authorities in case of problems in their respective areas for immediate action.
Suarez also reminded them to always serve the people with patriotism, dignity, and honor, and to always be truthful in their oath of office.
All police stations in the province simultaneously conducted peace caravan to ensure a safe, secure, peaceful, and honest election this year.
Also, all police stations have complied with the signing of peace covenant in coordination with the local government units, Comelec, AFP, BFP, and other concerned government agencies.
Nocppo has also assigned public information officers in all provincial police stations to directly answer the queries of media about election-related incidents.