Philippines ready for Eleksyon 2022 –Comelec, security forces

Philippine security forces and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Sunday that they were on full alert and prepared for the May 9 elections.

Several Comelec commissioners and officials of the country’s security forces conducted a walkthrough inspection of the Philippine International Convention Center, where the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) will convene on Monday.

Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan, Commissioner George Garcia, Spokesperson Director John Rex Laudiangco, Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Vicente Danao Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Andres Centino, and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Artemio Abu were present during the inspection.

At the press briefing, Danao guaranteed that 225,000 PNP personnel would be operationally ready to ensure and secure an accurate and fair election.

He also announced the implementation of the nationwide total liquor ban effective on Saturday night, May 7 until Monday, May 9.

The PNP OIC also warned those who would try to conduct campaign activities would be apprehended.

Centino likewise said that AFP personnel were on full alert, with their naval and air assets ready for the May 9 polls.

“I have reminded our troops deployed all over the country to always remain non-partisan and neutral. And we assure the public that all our troops are on full alert as we have declared this full alert status yesterday. We will be ready with all our resources. Air and naval assets have been made available, and we are at this point- implementing the plans we prepared way before the election campaign,” he added.

Abu also said that the Coast Guard was prepared to ensure safe elections.

Meanwhile, the Comelec chairman promised that the poll body would protect the sanctity of all votes in the country.

“The guiding principle of the Comelec will be to protect the sanctity of the vote by all means and in whatever circumstances. Together with our partner agencies, the PNP, AFP, PCG, DepED, and other government agencies, we are going to pursue this to the end,” Pangarungan said.

Public health standards

Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said they would strictly enforce public health standards to prevent COVID-19 infections on election day.

However, Laudiangco added that they had advised health authorities to set up COVID-19 vaccination sites farther away from the voting precincts.

“The commission has been in talks with the agency po alam po namin marangal at maayos po ang kanilang hinahangad, kaya lang po base sa advice namin sa kanila baka magkaroon po ng konting confusion doon sa ating mga poling centers kaya pinakusapan namin sila ihiwalay na lang po kung meron man,” he said.

“We will strictly maintain the minimum public health standards at ayaw namin mag-conflict pa yung papunta sa poling centers at dadaan pa doon at lalong magcause ng pagkakadikit dikit natin. Ang hiling po sana namin kung maari mas malayo pa as to clear the polling centers exclusively for voting,” he added.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said earlier that vaccination sites must be at least 30 meters away from the voting precincts.

Voters need only bring their vaccination cards, if any, and a valid ID.

Odette-affected areas

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia, meanwhile, assured voters in Odette affected areas that makeshift polling centers had been set up for them.

“Doon sa mga areas ng Bohol at Leyte na talaga pinadapa ng Bagyong Odette ang nag-instruction natin with the field personnel in coordination with the DepEd magtayo ng makeshift,” Garcia said.

“We authorize our field personnel as early as two days ago na mag-arkila ng generator sets na malalaki, na maglagay sa polling places na yan at saka mga makeshift. At the same time nagpahiram ang Department of Energy (DOE) sa atin ng napakadaming more or less 1,000 gensets,” he added.

The DOE earlier assured the public that there would be no power supply problems during election day on Monday.

Contingency measures

Garcia said the poll body had prepared several contingency measures in case a vote counting machine (VCM) was found to be defective on election day.

He explained that there would be technicians available to repair the VCMs in all polling places in the country. There would also be contingency machines that were on standby in critical areas.

Defective VCMs would meanwhile be brought to repair hubs.

“Habang ginagawa po yung mga makina hindi po titigil yung pagboto tuloy tuloy po yung pagboto. Hindi po porket ginagawa yung makina, titigil yung pagboto, tuloy tuloy po,” he said.

“Kung saka sakaling hindi magawa yung makina, hindi dumating agad yung makina doon sa repair hubs, yung machine sa kabilang presinto ang gagamitin. After matapos yung bilang doon... yung mga balota dito ihulog pwede ireconfigure yon para tanggapin yung balota,” he added.

Laudiangco said at least 90,305 or 85% of the VCMs have successfully undergone final testing and sealing.

The remaining 15% of VCMS would undergo final testing and sealing on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Ludiangco said the poll body was investigating 10 alleged vote buying cases filed in the Comelec's law department.

More gun ban incidents were also reported. The Comelec's data on such incidents would be updated.

The Comelec earlier said the cases were among the "numerous reports and complaints of vote-buying" received by the poll body via its official email address and Facebook page.

The commission's Task Force Kontra Bigay headed by Commissioner Aimee Ferolino would investigate the alleged vote-buying and vote-selling incidents. — DVM, GMA News