AROUND 5,000 police personnel will be deployed across Davao City to help ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the upcoming May 12, 2025 elections.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) chief, Police Colonel Hansel Marantan, shared the update during an ambush interview on Thursday morning, April 24, at the Majlis Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri (Eid al-Fitr Open House).
Marantan said the deployed officers will be assigned to polling precincts and will help escort election paraphernalia.
"Those police personnel will be responsible for the escorting of the paraphernalia, kasali na 'yung sa school. Pero may limit din kami (These police personnel will handle the escorting of materials, including those bound for schools. But will also have limits),” Marantan said, adding that they won’t be carrying ballot boxes or vote-counting machines.
He added that a comprehensive security plan is already in place, with less than two weeks left before election day.
In addition to the 5,000 personnel, reserve forces from national support units, such as the Special Action Force and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, will also be on standby. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be deployed as well to assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) in maintaining security.
DCPO is also planning to hold a ceremonial send-off for the deployed personnel in the days leading up to the election. RGL