Saturday, August 20, 2022
PNP prepares security for Maguindanao plebiscite next month
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started the security preparations for the plebiscite in Maguindanao which is aimed at asking the residents whether or not they are in favor of dividing the province into two.
If the majority of the voters will approve during the plebiscite scheduled from Sept. 17 to 24, the new provinces will be called Maguindanao Del Norte and Maguindanao Del Sur.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. said they have already started coordinating with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other government agencies.
“The PNP has committed to heightening security measures wherein more checkpoints will be placed in strategic areas to boost police visibility. All applicable laws issued by the Comelec during the plebiscite shall be strictly enforced,: said Azurin.
“We also have to make sure that minimum public health standard is observed as this will still happen at the middle of the pandemic,” he added.
Azurin said the focus of the security preparations is on providing security coverage in the transport or movement of plebiscite equipment, documents, and supplies.
He said he had already directed personnel to closely coordinate with the military to put the needed assets on standby for rapid response to any contingency.
Azurin said the PNP‘s active participation in similar election-related activities has been proven effective in many occasions of past electoral exercises.
“We just have to make sure that we are always on top of the situation so we can readily execute contingencies when original plan won’t work. I trust in the capabilities of our police officers whose pursuit is to provide a clean, honest, and safe plebiscite,” Azurin said.
https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/20/pnp-prepares-security-for-maguindanao-plebiscite-next-month/