SAF ready to deploy in case of election-related violence
MANILA, Philippines — Police General Guillermo Eleazar, Philippine National Police chief, said Thursday that he ordered the elite Special Action Force to be ready for deployment to areas where election-related violence may arise.
In a statement in Filipino, Eleazar said he directed police regional directors "to conduct target-hardening measures and security adjustments in their respective areas of responsibility especially that the filing of certificate of candidacy will start where there is possibility that the number of election-related violent incidents may start to rise."
He also said that he ordered Police Maj. General Felipe Natividad, SAF director, to ready his personnel for possible immediate deployment in areas to be determined as possible security concerns due to political rivalries.
The 2019 elections, where Filipinos elected local and national officials, were generally peaceful, the Philippine National Police and the military said on May 14, a day after election day of that year.
"The Army recorded minimal violent incidents. Isolated cases of harassment, explosion, and vote buying were immediately addressed by the troops while people who violated the gun ban were also apprehended and arrested," the Army said then.
Filing of candidacy certificates to start Friday
Eleazar’s statement came on the eve of the filing of certificate of candidacy, which will be held until October 8.
It also came a day after unidentified men lobbed a grenade at the ancestral house of Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro).
Earlier this week, Lilo, Zamboanga del Norte town councilor Ernesto Bihag was killed by gunmen while he was driving his vehicle on his way to the municipal hall.
Eleazar in late August ordered unit and area commanders to start security preparations to ensure the conduct of the 2022 national polls will be peaceful and orderly.
His directive also covers the monitoring and accounting of private armed groups and loose firearms, as well as guns with expired licenses.
Police officers were also tapped to help secure voters’ registration, which will resume after the filing COCs until October 30.
In an earlier release, the Commission on Elections said the election period will start on January 9 to June 8, 2022. Gun ban will also be implemented during the said period. — Kristine Joy Patag
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