First day of COC filing peaceful

 MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) described yesterday as generally peaceful the first day of filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for local and national positions.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the National Operation Center (NOC) reported no violent incident related to the filing of COCs.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the PNP is coordinating with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure the peaceful and orderly filing of COCs from Oct. 1 to 5.

He said the PNP has fully deployed its personnel to Comelec offices where individuals are filing their COCs for the midterm elections in May 2013.

Roxas said that the PNP gave him a briefing to ensure that the filing of COCs will be orderly and peaceful.

“For this week, they will be on full deployment and on alert. We will be directing our resources where the possible threats may be,” he said.

PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said the PNP remains on normal alert in Metro Manila, Luzon, and the Visayas as the five-day filing of certificates of candidacy started.

Bartolome reminded PNP ground commanders to enhance their security preparations in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies. – Ric Sapnu, Ed Amoroso