A TOTAL of 2,838 police personnel were trained in case they need to serve as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) on Monday’s polls, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Sunday, May 12.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the said police officers can be deputized by the Commission on Election (Comelec) to serve as BEIs f there are no available teachers to serve and if the peace and order situation in an area requires their service.
“Our men and women of the PNP are ready to do their duty under the law. They have already undergone training by the COMELEC for this contingency and they are on stand-by should their service be required,” he said.
"Titiyakin nating hindi magiging hadlang ang anumang insidenteng may kaugnayan sa kapayapaan upang makaboto ang ating mga kababayan," he added.
The DILG said of the 2,838 police officers, 1,032 are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 415 in Northern Mindanao, 363 in Calabarzon, 231 in Caraga, 201 in Bicol region, 175 in Davao region and 136 in Zamboanga Peninsula while the athors were assigned in various provinces in Luzon.
The Comelec has earlier placed the entire Mindanao under red category of election hotspots due to history of intense election related violence and partisan political rivalry and threats from the domestic terror groups.
"We do not want to take any chances during the elections especially since the Abu Sayyaf, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other factions still remains to be a peace and order issue in BARMM,” said Año.
"With the exemption of Region 4A, most] of the areas are in Mindanao which remains to be a challenge to Comelec and PNP. Hopefully, these areas will be peaceful during the May 13 polls," he added.
The Philippine National Police said a total of 149,830 police personnel were fielded for election duty nationwide.
Of which, 75,486 will be stationed in police assistance desks at least 50 meters from the polling centers; 31,613 are reserved forces and 11,413 are part of the quick response team.
Other cops are assigned in the election monitoring action center, warehouse and hub, canvassing centers, election boards, checkpoints, boarder control chokepoint and Civil Disturbance Management.
PNP chief Oscar Albayalde also said earlier that 2,775 personnel who are on schooling were recalled for election duty.
The PNP is in full alert to ensure the peace and order before, during and after election. (SunStar Philippines)