With the deployment of hundreds of police officers to elections hotspots in Leyte province, the Philippine National Police (PNP) hopes for a safer, more peaceful Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) this coming November 2.
As barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections tend to be more personal and more hotly-contested than national and local elections, PNP officials in the province said these additional police officers aims to contain election-related violence in one of the Philippines' most politically-volatile regions.
In a media interview, P/Lt. Col. Analiza Armeza, PRO-8 spokesperson, said Thursday that police personnel under the Regional Task Force “Kamurayaw” (peace) were deployed on June 10, five months before the BSKE elections.
They will be augmented at police stations in the 3rd and 4th legislative districts in Leyte, where election-related violence has been recorded in every poll season.
“The task force is expected to conduct focused anti-criminality operations, suppress violent crimes, address shooting incidents, and prevent activities of lawless elements that could threaten public safety and compromise the integrity of the electoral process,” Armeza told the Philippine News Agency.
Of the 302 deployed police officers, 25 are from the regional headquarters, 95 from the 3rd and 4th districts of Leyte, 100 from the 1st district of Samar, and 82 from various support units.
In a statement, PRO-8 Director P/BGen. Jason Capoy underscored the Philippine National Police’s firm stance against any attempts to disrupt the conduct of the local elections.
“The deployment of the task force is a clear message that we will not tolerate any form of lawlessness, violence, or intimidation in Eastern Visayas. We have sent our personnel to these districts to proactively prevent crime and safeguard the will of the people,” Capoy said.
(With report from PNA)
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