THE military and police have launched their National Election Monitoring Center (NEMC), which would monitor all the aspects of security during the election day and the canvassing of votes.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs Office deputy chief Captain Celeste Frank Sayson said each field unit in the country will be represented in the NEMC in the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City where reports will be consolidated and coordinate information critical for the conduct of the elections.
He said the NEMC will be operational 24/7 that will last until the end of the election period or until after there is already a pronouncement of election winners by the Commission on Election (Comelec).
"It is a facility in line with the tasked to be one of the deputized security agencies of the Comelec. Lahat ng area commands natin will be represented ditto at lahat ng reports na nanggagaling sa field areas natin, all major areas n gating bansa na sinasakop ng AFP unified commands magrereport ditto especially security related reports in relation to the conduct if the 2016 elections," he said.
Along with other law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation, the Comelec deputized the AFP to help them for the conduct of honest and safe elections particularly in the matter of national security as well as military operations, stakeholders engagement and intelligence operation to deter all forms of threat against the peaceful conduct of elections.
Sayson said the military together with the PNP is ready and prepared to whatever help will be needed by the Comelec particularly in the handling of election security concerns.
"The AFP is committed to help the Comelec in any means possible," he said.
Asked on the difference between the AFP's NEMC and the NEMC run by the PNP in Camp Crame, Sayson said the areas covered by their field units are mostly remote areas, which are already out of reach of the PNP.
He assured that there will be no overlapping of work between the AFP and the PNP as they are in constant coordination with each other.
PNP-NEMC head Chief Superintendent Nestor Bergonia said at least 200 policemen will be running the facility, including 33 cops who are experts in information technology.
He said similar to the military's NEMC, they will be monitoring each field unit in the country to consolidate and coordinate information vital in the conduct of the safe elections.
Bergonia said they are also studying the web mapping and quantum geographical information system as they area also tasked to monitor the safe transportation of vote counting machines.
However, all information which will be received by the AFP and PNP through their NEMC will be transmitted directly to the Comelec operations center for real-time updates. (Sunnex)