The Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified monitoring and security operations in all election areas under the red category ahead of the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In a statement on Monday, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., directed all concerned police offices and units to strengthen security operations in areas identified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as high-risk locations.
Nartatez directed all concerned police offices and units to strengthen security operations in areas identified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as high-risk locations.
“Our goal is to implement long-term changes to finally address the negative perceptions that come with the conduct of elections in this region due to the incidents that happened in the past. It’s a work in progress, and we are on the right track,” Nartatez said, adding this is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., through the guidance of Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, to ensure peaceful, orderly and credible BARMM parliamentary elections and protect communities from election-related violence.
The Comelec has placed 27 election areas of concern under the red category for having serious security threats due to the presence of communist terrorist groups or other armed threat groups.
The areas include several municipalities in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur and the Special Geographic Area.
Gun ban is already in effect in the region, and police commanders were tasked to push for coordination and peace pact with clans and groups as part of the efforts for peaceful, honest and orderly elections.
Nartatez said strategic deployment of personnel through Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO) will also play a crucial role, a strategy which he initiated in the area when he was assigned as the commander of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao.
Further, the PNP chief said police visibility will be intensified in the identified areas and intelligence operations will also be strengthened to detect possible threats and prevent election-related incidents before they occur.
“The PNP will closely coordinate with the local government units in securing the days ahead of the BARMM elections,” Nartatez said. (PNA)