Palace vows peaceful elections

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang assured the public yesterday that the military and police are committed to ensuring a peaceful election on May 9, amid the recent school bombings and ambush of politicians.

Presidential Communications and Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would also make use of “augmentation forces from their own operating units” to provide protection to public school teachers comprising the Board of Election Inspectors.

Joint security assistance desks will be set up in all polling precincts nationwide, he said.

He told state-run radio station dzRB that the PNP and AFP are continuing the preparations for the coming elections.