THE Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas has been placed under full alert status in anticipation of the 2025 National and Local Elections this May 12.
"Despite the challenges, our mission is clear: to safeguard the integrity of the elections. We must work together to guarantee safe, secure, and peaceful elections across the region," said police regional director Brigadier General Jay Cumigad on Saturday, May 3.
Cumigad also urged the public “to remain alert, cooperate with authorities, and report suspicious activities as part of its shared commitment to democratic integrity.”
As part of the intensified security preparations for the mid-term elections, the entire police force in the region “is now mobilized, with 100 percent of personnel deployed to maintain peace and order before, during, and after the May 12 polls.”
Under full alert status, all leaves of absence for police personnel are suspended to ensure maximum deployment, according to Major Analiza Armeza, officer-in- charge of the Regional Public Information Office.
The police regional command deployed 751 personnel under the Regional Special Operations Task Group to the 1st District of Samar and the 3rd and 4th districts of Leyte, which are complemented by Tactical Teams, or “Road Runners,” for mobile patrols.
Meanwhile, the Regional Standby Support Force (RSSF) at the regional headquarters has been deployed to Tacloban City and nearby towns in Leyte.
“These deployments are part of the effort to ensure a secure, accurate, free, and fair electoral process in Eastern Visayas,” Armeza said in a statement to the media.
“Brigadier General Cumigad, along with members of the Command Group, is personally conducting inspections at established checkpoints to ensure operational readiness and provide guidance to deployed personnel,” she added.
The PNP-Eastern Visayas earlier deployed a 101-member Special Electoral Board Contingent to the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) to assist in securing election-related activities in areas identified as under special security concern. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)