PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. on Monday assured the country of their complete readiness to ensure an honest and orderly October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections even as he called anew on the citizenry specifically the candidates to cooperate with all their security measures.

The top cop also said that their strict enforcement of the nationwide gun ban since August 28 to date has resulted in an 8.4 percent reduction in the overall crime volume in the country.

Since August 28 to October 16, they have conducted a total of 251,592 checkpoints or an average of 5,790 checkpoints a day which resulted in the arrest of 1,103 gun ban violators and the confiscation of 1,479 assorted firearms and other deadly weapons.

Gen. Acorda said that a total of 1,905 firearms with expired licenses were also deposited by their registered owners to the police force while 955 were surrendered.

“The effective gun ban implementation has succeeded in laying the foundation behind the 8.4 percent reduction in crime from January to date compared to the same period last year,” he said.

The PNP chief said that a total of 4,439 policemen who have underwent training as electoral board are already on standby to act as Commission on Elections (Comelec) supervisors during the BSK in parts of the Bangsamoro Administrative Region,. Calabarzon and Bicol regions.

As of yesterday, he said that out of the 42,001 barangays in the country, 356 have been listed in the Red Category, 1,325 in Orange Category, 1,196 in Yellow Category and 39,124 in Green Category.

Presence of threat groups like the New People’s Army, historical data of intense political rivalries and monitored presence of partisan armed groups being employed by local politicians are being watched by the police and the Armed Forces in the areas under the ‘Red’ category.

Gen. Acorda said they are anticipating some intense political activities in areas with known history of political violence although they are ready for it. Another 800 additional policemen will also be deployed in BARMM during the election to reinforce the local police.

The PNP chief also maintained that they are fully going up against vote-buying, partisan armed groups and other illegal poll activities and warned that any police officer and men who will be found to be engaged in partisan politicking will be dealt with accordingly.

In Abra province, he said he has ordered Cordillera police director, Brigadier General David K. Peredo Jr. to ensure the availability of policemen who can replace public school teachers who have announced their decision not to participate in the BSKE due to fear of their lives.

Gen. Acorda said that as of yesterday, they have recorded 85 incidents since the start of the election period last August 28, 15 of them validated to be Election-Related Incidnets. The 15 include 11 shooting incidents, 2 kidnappings, 1 case of grave threat and another a case of indiscriminate firing.

The rest were found to be not poll-related.

The PNP chief held a command conference at Camp Crame yesterday attended by his Command Group, the 17 Police Regional Office directors and the directors of the different National Operational and Administrative Support Units.

Prior to that, he talked with Comelec Commissioner in-charge of BSKE 2023, Attorney Rey E. Bulay and Armed Forces Chief of Staff, General Romeo S. Brawner Jr..

“Our Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are the bedrock of our democratic structure. They offer a platform for fostering local leadership community engagement and cultivating youthful leaders who will bear the mantle of our nation’s future. The Barangay, the smallest political unit in our country, is the cornerstone of governance. The Sangguniang Kabataan, conversely, serves as a crucible for the youth, where they can hone their potential and cultivate the skills requisite for effective leadership,” he said.

“As we convene today, we must acknowledge these elections’ crucial role in our nation’s development and progress. It extends beyond merely casting votes; it’s about empowering our communities, encouraging civic participation, and instilling the principles of responsible citizenship,” Gen. Acorda added.

The PNP chief enjoined his men to approach the impending elections with a sense of duty, integrity, and fairness.

“The decisions we make and the actions we undertake will profoundly affect our fellow citizens’ lives. Let’s foster a political climate rooted in respect, cooperation, and inclusivity, where every Filipino’s voice is recognized and valued,” he said.