THERE is yet a generally peaceful situation in the local campaign front although the Philippine National Police (PNP) is not taking any chances and is seeing to it that their security measures will hold until the end of the May 9 national and local elections on June 8, the Journal Group was told yesterday.

PNP chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos said that Day 1 of the 41-day campaign period for the 2022 local elections last Friday was generally peaceful with no major untoward incident reported across the country.

The top cop cited real-time situation updates from the 17 Police Regional Offices being sent regularly to the PNP Command Center in Camp Crame.

Records showed that there are 18,023 elective posts being contested with 845 candidates including 39 congressional bets out of the 253 seats in the House of Representatives running unopposed.

Nine gubernatorial candidates, 11 vice-gubernatorial bets, 203 mayoralty candidates, 254 vice-mayoralty bets and 284 candidates for city/municipal council seats are also running unopposed

“The local campaign period started on a generally peaceful and orderly mode on Friday. We hope that this favorable condition will hold for the succeeding days of the campaign period until the last day of the local campaign in May 7, or two days before the 2022 National and Local Elections in May 9,” Gen. Carlos said.

The PNP chief since November last year has ordered all police territorial units to keep a close watch on areas with intense political rivalries and see to it that they will be after the heads of politicians employing partisan armed groups and storing illegal firearms that could be used to commit gun-related violence in the 2022 national and local elections.

Prior to the start of the May 2019 election campaign period, the PNP identified 701 areas including the cities of Mandaluyong, Manila, Caloocan, Malabon and Pasay as election ‘hot spots.’

The PNP leadership said then that the number were almost half or 42.9 percent of the 1,364 cities and municipalities in the country and prompted them to ‘adjust’ the deployment of their personnel for election duties.

The PNP chief has reminded candidates vying for some 18,000 local elective posts that all campaign activities are prohibited on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, April 14 and 15, 2022, according to the Calendar of Activities for the 2022 National and Local Elections passed by the Commission on Elections.

“We express optimism that all security measures put in place by the PNP will produce favorable results to uphold the sovereign will of the Filipino electorate and ensure safe, orderly, honest and peaceful elections on May 9th,” he said.

Gen. Carlos has ordered intensified monitoring efforts by his men to see possible poll violations on the part of the candidates and their supporters as well as threats to the country’s security posed by the New People’s Army, partisan armed groups and other lawless elements.

However, the PNP has not monitored any ‘credible threats’ to the May 9 polls so far.

The PNP chief said they will continue to enforce the mandatory wearing of face masks by the public as ordered by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases during the campaign period to help prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Under Alert Level 1, a 100 percent capacity of the venue is allowed, while under Alert Level 2, only 70 percent is allowed. However, ‘hugging, kissing, arm-to-arm’ contact and taking selfies are prohibited in campaigning.

The Comelec said that minimum public health standards, disinfection, and social distancing should still be implemented during the campaign rallies.

NCRPO EYEING ZERO-TROUBLE DURING CAMPAIGN PERIOD

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Major Gen. Felipe R. Natividad has ordered the deployment of some 4,000 NCRPO personnel in different parts of Metro Manila to ensure the peaceful conduct of the local campaign period.

At the same time, Department of Interior and Local (DILG) Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año has urged the public to report to authorities the use of government resources including manpower and vehicles in campaign rallies.

Maj. Gen. Natividad said they are embarking on a mission to achieve ‘zero election-related incidents’ in Metro Manila during the campaign period and until June 8.

The official said around 4,000 Metro Manila policemen are now deployed in different campaign activities to maintain peace and order while others are on standby and ready for deployment should the need arise.

“The highest level of alertness and preparedness is expected in all Metro Manila police offices to prevent any untoward incident,” the NCRPO chief said as he continued to visit different police stations and sub-stations in the metropolis.

“The forthcoming National and Local Elections 2022 is expected to be more challenging than it was before considering the fact that we are facing a global health crisis at the moment. We must modify our strategies to adopt to the new environment,” Maj. Gen. Natividad said.

“Let us continue to maximize police presence, non-stop inspections, our undivided attention and dedication as well as continuous anti-criminality campaign to guarantee that we will have a safe, accurate and fair election. Sama-sama tayong magtrabaho ng maayos, tama at ilagay sa puso ang disiplina upang makamit natin ang payapang eleksyon,” the official added.

Gen. Carlos has ordered an intensified campaign against Private Armed Groups, Criminal Gangs, Wanted Persons, Gun-for-Hire Groups and loose firearms

Nationwide ahead of the election.

He said that the intensified law enforcement operations will be done thru service of warrants of arrest and search warrants, checkpoint operations, police patrols and response as well as the so-called ‘Oplan Sita/Bakal/Galugad.’

Based on historical data of previous elections, election related incidents resulting from intense political rivalry are known to escalate during the start of the campaign period.

“We will ensure to remain apolitical and to protect the will of the electorate by ensuring honest, orderly and peaceful elections in May,” Gen. Carlos said.