PNP braces for intense political fights
PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar ordered all police commanders nationwide to start mapping out election security plan in their respective areas of responsibility as intense political rivalries is expected to heat up at the local level after the filing of Certificate of Candidacy.
“Ngayong nagkakaroon na ng linaw kung sinu-sino ang maglalaban-laban lalo na sa mga local elective position, inaasahan na natin ang mainitang political rivalries na posibleng mauwi sa karahasan kaya inatasan ko na ang ating mga unit commanders na umpisahan na ang paghahanda upang tiyaking walang kaguluhang mangyayari sa kani-kanilang area of responsibility,” the top cop said.
PNP data revealed that almost all the election-related violence in the past stemmed from intense political rivalries of candidates vying for local posts, which include clashes among the supporters.
To address the problem, Gen. Eleazar said they are currently reviewing and assessing the areas with a history of election-related violence.
Part of the campaign to ensure honest, peaceful and orderly elections in May elections next year is the aggressive campaign against loose firearms and the accounting of private armed groups in various parts of the country, he explained.
“I also ordered our Intelligence Group to start the monitoring and background check on all the candidates who have the history, the potential and the means to sow violence as part of our aggressive efforts to ensure the honest and peaceful elections next year,” said Gen. Eleazar.
“We assure our kababayan that their Philippine National Police will do everything in its power to ensure that this entire democratic process will be protected,” he added.
Gen. Eleazar expressed satisfaction over the election security measures of his men in the past six days of the filing of COCs and Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONAs).
At the same time, he reiterated his call to the political candidates to discourage their supporters from accompanying them or gathering outside the Comelec offices and other venues to avoid creating super spreader events.
“Nananatiling tahimik at maayos ang filing ng COCs at CONAs sa buong bansa at patuloy na nakahanda ang inyong kapulisan upang tiyaking walang kaguluhang magaganap sa natitirang dalawang araw ng prosesong ito,” he said.
The deadline for the filing of COCs and CONAs is on October 8.
