Police undergo briefing on automated elections

CEBU, Philippines - The task force commander of Honest, Orderly, Peaceful Election (HOPE) personally visited the headquarters of Police Regional Office (PRO-7) yesterday to check on the preparations of all security details in the upcoming May 10 elections.

Police Deputy Director General Edgardo Acuña, in an interview with the media, said that they tried to meet with all the stakeholders all over the country and to have workshop on the preparations including the transportation of the PCOS machine in all polling precincts.

“Ang nakita lang namin na problema so far ay yung chain custody ng mga PCOS machine,” Acuña said.

He said the Philippine National Police are tasked to secure the PCOS machine together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

They are also to look who are the persons responsible for the PCOS machine.

Acuña said that since March last year, they have already been preparing for the elections and they are confident that it would go smoothly. However, he added that they could not yet figure out on what percentage they are ready but added that 30 days before May 10, they will be fully prepared.

For his part, PRO-7 director Supt. Lani-o Nerez, said there were 4,000 more or less polling precincts in entire Central Visayas region but they already clustered it and made it 2,904.

Two police officers would be assigned to secure each polling precinct, or 5,808 police personnel will be deployed in all clustered precincts.

“As much as possible, hatagan gyud og security hasta ang mga PCOS machine ug pwede 24/7 gyud ang police service ani,” Nerez said.

However, the police officers are warned not to touch the PCOS machines and or even go near them to avoid negative perception from the people. Only the Board of Election Inspectors are allowed to operate and touch the automated machines.

Meanwhile, Nerez said that he also gave directives to all the provincial and city police directors in the region to initiate peace covenant with all candidates.

“As much as possible all candidates have to join to this covenant to ensure their commitment,” the police official said.

All the candidates will be invited to sign the covenant as their commitment for the honest, orderly and peaceful elections.

“Hangyo lang mi nga inig pirma nila sa covenant ila gyud ning tumanon,” Nerez added. – Gabriel C. Bonjoc/WAB   FREEMAN NEWS)