THE Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is ready to assist and secure voter registration areas in order to ensure the orderly conduct of registration of voters in the country for the 2022 national and local elections.
PNP Chief, Police General Guillermo Eleazar made the assurance after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decided to extend registration hours to accommodate more people who wish to register for the polls amid the pandemic.
The new registration schedule is Monday to Saturday from 8 a,m. to 7 p.m. starting August 23. The Comelec also opened voter registration on holidays.
“The PNP is ready to secure voter registration. This is part of our responsibility every election season, to ensure the orderly and peaceful conduct of all activities related to the elections, from voter registration up to the declaration of winners,” PGen. Eleazar said.
“But this is now a different situation. The PNP also needs to ensure that minimum public health safety standards and quarantine protocols at the registration sites are are strictly observed,” he added.
PGen Eleazar tasked local police offices to coordinate with local government units regarding this matter and reminded police commanders to ensure a strategic and balanced deployment of personnel, given that cops were also deployed to secure vaccination sites.