Region, 12-5-2021
The Police Regional Office-Cordillera has put in place measures that will address possible challenges during the May 2022 national and local elections.
Col. Sibly Dawiguey Jr., PRO-Cor chief of operations, said they will see to it that all the laws, regulations and policies set out by the Commission on Elections are strictly implemented to assure peaceful and orderly elections on May 9, 2022.
Dawiguey said PRO-Cor has adopted the Predict, Prevent, Prepare, Perform, and Post-action and assessment as core of its crisis management for the elections.
While the region’s peace and order situation during elections are at manageable, Dawiguey said the police are looking into possible events and incidents that may occur based on experiences in the past elections.
“What we do is predict kung saan tinitingnan namin kung anong pwedeng mangyari historically or during the previous elections,” Dawiguey said.
As per record, he reported the last of private armed groups (PAGs) which were usually employed by some political candidates in the region have already been delisted, with remaining members having already surrendered to authorities.
“We no longer have PAGs, which were accordingly documented by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police,” he said.
However, he said the police will continue being on guard as they cannot discount the possibility these groups will be formed again next year.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Cordillera Director Araceli San Jose added that as part of efforts to prevent violence and conflicts due to the presence of PAGs, the DILG-CAR recently met with barangay officials in the region and reminded them about the barangays’ critical role in the permanent disbandment of PAGs.
“We oriented them on their role because gusto natin ipaalala sa ating mga barangay officials na sila ay very critical sa pagsumbong sa ating kapulisan kung gusto nating masiguro na malinis ang elections natin next year. Ayaw po nating magkaroon ng karahasan, gusto po natin na ang ating kababayan ay malayang makakapamili ng kanilang iboboto,” San Jose said.
Dawiguey said police personnel are also conducting simulation exercises on ballot snatching, ambushes, and other untoward incidents that may happen during the elections and are coming up with actions to be taken in such cases.
An initial deployment plan during election is also already in place so that personnel are assigned in checkpoints, escorting of ballot boxes, and as reactionary units for any untoward incidents, especially on election areas of concern.