No serious threats ahead of BSKE – police

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is seeing no serious peace and order concerns ahead of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) this October.

At a press conference yesterday, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. told reporters that security measures are being prepared for the BSKE, which will take place on Oct. 30.

“This early, we do not foresee any serious peace and order concerns on a national scale in the 2023 BSKE,” Acorda said.

He added that they have received some threats on some barangay officials and prospective candidates, but they have conducted appropriate measures in the affected areas.

The PNP chief revealed that they have received “a few threats,” so far.

“It is not that (big of a magnitude) compared with those in previous elections… It is not to the point that the elections would really be affected,” he said.

“On the part of the persons, of those who are affected, there are procedures that can be adopted, and they can avail (themselves) of some of the exemptions being provided for by the Comelec (Commission on Elections), like gun ban exemptions, they can avail (themselves) of that, and I think there was also a set date on the processing of these gun ban exemptions,” he added.

If more personal protection is needed, barangay and officials and prospective candidates can connect with the PNP Police Security and Protection Group, according to Acorda.

“Definitely, we are taking all the measures that we can do just to really provide the appropriate security and to avoid any further attack or violence against these persons that are reporting,” he said.

He added that they are already monitoring some potential hotspots.

“We already have continuous monitoring, and we have some data already based on existing threat assessment and historical data. We have that, but definitely the official list (of hotspots) will come from the Commission on Elections,” Acorda said.

He bared that one of the causes of “flashpoints” during the BSKE is intense political rivalry.

“That is the major (thing) that we are really looking after,” he said.

He added that they are also monitoring “possible conduct of atrocities,” led by the remaining active guerrilla fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army.