5,558 cops on standby as substitute poll workers —PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said over 5,000 cops are on standby as possible poll workers in case some teachers withdraw as electoral board members for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) on Monday.

The PNP said it has trained 5,558 cops in preparation for the upcoming election.

“Maaga pa lamang ay in-anticipate na ito ng PNP kaya meron po tayong naka-standby na 5,588 na trained na PNP na puwede pong mag-serve as special board of electoral inspector po,” said PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita on Thursday.

(The PNP has anticipated this, which is why we have 5,588 trained personnel who can serve as special board of election inspectors.)

Recently, some teachers in Cotabato City and Abra have backed out of the task due to fear of violence, according to Fajardo. 

Aside from poll workers backing out, the PNP is also looking at the withdrawal of around 250 candidates in Abra.

“With or without iyong reklamo (a complaint), with that number, it is alarming already. So, pinapaimbestigahan na natin (we are having it investigated),” PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said.

On October 18, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it received an initial report that a candidate for the BSKE in Bucay, Abra was shot dead.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the victim was running for barangay councilor.

On Monday night, three people—including two barangay kagawad candidates—were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting incident in Rosary Heights 12, Cotabato City, the police reported.

The victims were hanging campaign posters when the suspects fired shots at them. One of the 12 suspects is also a candidate.

So far, Fajardo said a total of eight people have already been killed in 22 confirmed incidents of election-related violence.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,785 individuals have been arrested and 1,393 firearms have been confiscated due to election gun ban violations as of Wednesday, Fajardo told Dobol B TV in a separate interview. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News