Photo courtesy of PNP
Nearly 10,000 police personnel will be deployed across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to secure the region’s parliamentary elections on Sept. 14, the Philippine National Police said.
The PNP said 9,821 personnel would be assigned to voting centers, election offices, checkpoints and other key locations as authorities stepped up security preparations days before the polls.
Of the total deployment, 4,361 personnel would come from Police Regional Office BARMM, while 5,460 others would serve as augmentation forces from regional and specialized police units.
The security plan covers 4,313 voting centers, 208 Commission on Elections offices and 218 treasurers’ offices. Police will also man 856 checkpoints, while 2,120 Quick Reaction Force personnel will be positioned to respond to possible security incidents.
Additional forces include 352 Civil Disturbance Management personnel and 1,754 personnel assigned to Special Electoral Boards. Augmentation units will also include 2,430 personnel from other police regional offices, 830 from the Special Action Force, 250 from the Maritime Group, 146 from the EOD-K9 Group and 50 from the Highway Patrol Group.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said the deployment was intended to provide security while allowing voters to participate without fear or intimidation.
“Our personnel are deployed not only to secure election areas, but to help create an environment where people can exercise their right to vote freely, peacefully, and without intimidation,” Nartatez said.
The Sept. 14 vote will be the first regular parliamentary election for the Bangsamoro government. The election date was set under Republic Act No. 12317, while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier approved the deputation of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other government agencies to assist the Comelec in securing the polls.