Over 41K cops deployed to Comelec checkpoints —Malaya

More than 41,000 police personnel are set to be deployed in checkpoints across the country to secure the conduct of May 9 elections, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said on Friday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said these are in addition to the 16,820 cops designated for election duties.

“Mayroon tayong nakatalagang 16,820 na mga PNP personnel for election duties. May karagdagang 41,965 personnel na nakatalaga sa 5,431 checkpoints sa buong bansa,” he said.

(We have 16,820 PNP personnel designated for election duties. There are an additional 41,965 personnel who are designated in 5,431 checkpoints in the entire country.)

Malaya added that two mobile forces are dedicated to every province for the security of the election day.

Earlier, the PNP assured the public that it can still secure the 2022 elections despite its change of leadership a day before the May 9 polls.

Current PNP chief Police General Dionardo Carlos is set to retire on May 8, 2022 — a day before the national and local elections — upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

On Friday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said he has submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte two candidates for acting PNP chief position. —LBG, GMA News