AFP, PNP on full alert ahead of Eleksyon 2022

The Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines will be on full alert as part of the security preparations for the May 9 national and local elections.

“Effective today, as of 6 a.m., nagdeklara na po tayo ng full alert. Ibig sabihin po lahat ng kapulisan ay magre-render ng kanilang duty in relation sa ating paghahanda sa eleksyon,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB Wednesday.

(Effective today, as of 6.am., we have declared a full alert. It means that all of our personnel will render their duty in preparation for the elections.)

AFP chief of staff General Andres Centino, on the other hand, said the military will be on red alert starting Friday.

“We are ready, we have done the planning, we have done the organization, and we have set up our monitoring command centers. We are declaring red alert by Friday so that we ensure that all AFP personnel across the country are accounted for by their commanders and ready for the election on Monday,” he said during a joint press conference with the PNP, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Education, and Commission on Elections.

“And this is an assurance from your AFP, while at this time we are still uncertain of who will win, who will be the next leaders of our country, what we can be certain is that you have a strong armed forces ready to perform its duty,” Centino added.

No verified threat

PNP chief Police General Dionardo Carlos and Centino both said they have yet to receive any verified threats in connection with the May polls.

“Walang verified, all information lang. May word na baka so hindi pa rin sila sure. So whenever there is information, we go out and verify the information on the ground and come up with an intelligence report,” Carlos said during the joint press conference.

Centino said “these are unverified but we cannot be complacent, we are preparing for contingencies and we are ready for that.”

Election-related violence incidents

The PNP and AFP said the number of election-related violence incidents (ERVI) is lower this year compared to two or three elections ago.

“So far ‘yung latest natin nung May 3, there are 13 verified incidents so that's a very low number,” said Carlos.

He added they have contingency measures up to June 30.

“‘Yung all the preparations we did is before, during, and after as mentioned by the AFP chief of staff. We have contingency after the May 9 elections. Hanggang June 9 ‘yan so kinover na ho namin sa contingency. Actually ang aming contingency is up to June 30 so we are ready para sa ganito and rest assured ‘yung deputized agencies, the PCG, AFP, DepEd ready po kami for this election,” Carlos further said.—AOL, GMA News