THE Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed that it will double its efforts to help ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the May 2022 national and local elections.
The public’s eagerness to register so they can vote in the coming elections further encourages the police force to step up its measures to make sure that the polls will be secure and orderly, according to PNP Chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar.
He also made mention of the PNP’s heightened efforts to prevent the lawless actions being planned by private armed groups and those involved in the proliferation of loose firearms that will only threaten the coming elections.
“The large number of Filipino people who still want to register only encourages us to work double in laying down the groundwork for peaceful, orderly and honest conduct of the elections next year,” PGen Eleazar said.
“Our aggressive operations against private armed groups and loose firearms have been intensified in order to deny any individual and group the opportunity to hijack the healthy and clean exercise of our democratic process on the days leading to the May polls and the Election Day,” he added.
The assurance came after the Commission on Elections mulled a possible extension of the voter’s registration period until the end of October following discussions made by poll body officials and as a consideration for the public clamor to extend the process.
He said the PNP would continue to coordinate with Comelec as they have the common goal of guaranteeing a peaceful voting registration process.
PGen Eleazar has instructed police commanders to deploy enough men in voting registration areas to ensure the safety of the public and to also enforce the minimum health standards amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the police are also ready to secure the filing of certificate of candidacy scheduled from October 1 to 8, according to the PNP chief.