MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs’ “Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo: Tayo Na!†election forum made its first stop at the De La Salle University (DLSU)-Manila yesterday, with voting-age students given information on the election process and urged to exercise their right of suffrage.
The forum, also supported by The STAR, featured a presentation by Leo Lim of the Commission on Elections on the use of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines on May 13 and the hi-tech transmission and counting of votes.
Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman, apprised young voters on preparations made by police forces to ensure peaceful and orderly elections under their Safe and Free Elections (SAFE) 2013 program.
Under the PNP Command Memorandum Circular 01-12, a SAFE task force will focus on the conduct of elections, private armed groups, proliferation of firearms, political rivalry, presence of threat and criminal groups, and other elements.
Abra, Pangasinan, Cavite, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cagayan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Masbate, Samar, Misamis Occidental, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan have been identified as the 15 election hot-spot provinces.
Cerbo said the PNP has already taken “intervention†measures to neutralize some private armies and account for and recover loose firearms.
He said the PNP would reshuffle police personnel and conduct a judicial audit of provincial jails to prevent cases where detainees are used for election-related violence or harassment by unscrupulous candidates.
Cerbo said 60 private armed groups “and 47 potential PAGs†had been identified by the task force. It has also recorded 25,065 loose firearms and 552,338 unrenewed gun licenses nationwide.
Francisco Magno, director of the DLSU Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance, urged first-time voters to evaluate candidates running for senator and local positions in their “I4Juan†criteria of integrity, intelligence, inclusiveness, and innovation.
Citing Robredo, Magno said voters should consider if a candidate is both morally upright and competent.
The Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo: Tayo Na! campaign is a community and social services-focused citizen journalism program of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs.