AFP sets up poll monitoring center

MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has set up its own election monitoring center at Camp Aguinaldo to receive real-time reports on election-related incidents from all over the country, an official said yesterday.

The center, located in the AFP’s Commissioned Officers Club, will be manned by military and police contingents under the overall supervision of Commission on Elections officials.

“Our election monitoring center will be operating on a 24-hour basis to complement the monitoring center that been set up by the Philippine National Police (PNP),” Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office chief, said.

The center is connected to AFP’s area commands, which are in turn connected to military and police units on the field.

“We will be actively monitoring the prevailing security on the ground. Through the center, we can assess what necessary military and police actions will be taken if we have monitored election-related disturbances in any particular area around the country,” Detoyato said.

NCRPO ready to secure precincts

Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday it is ready to secure polling precincts in Metro Manila, with the May 9 elections only 11 days away.

NCRPO chief Director Joel Pagdilao said he would deploy four uniformed police officers in each polling precinct to ensure the conduct of honest and fair elections.

Earlier, Pagdilao said no untoward incident was recorded in Metro Manila since the start of the campaign period last Feb. 26.

There are also no hot spots in the metropolis, he added.

Pagdilao and his five district directors and 38 station commanders would meet today at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City today to finalize the security plan for the elections.

Pagdilao said no NCRPO personnel were monitored engaged in partisan politics as of yesterday.