DILG to PNP: Identify poll hotspots

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police has been tasked to identify election hotspots to  ensure the holding of orderly and peaceful polls next year.

Department of the Interior and Local Government spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the DILG directed local police units to assess the situation on the ground to identify potential election hotspots.

“We are asking our police regional offices and provincial offices na magsagawa ng assessment kung ano ba yung mga lugar... especially yung may PAGs (private armed groups) para as early as now mabantayan natin,” Malaya said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

He said the Commission on Elections is awaiting the recommendation of the DILG.

Malaya said additional police personnel would be deployed in poll hotspots.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos reminded PNP personnel to remain apolitical.

He vowed to impose sanctions on anyone found moonlighting as security escorts of politicians.

Carlos said he has yet to receive reports of police officers who have filed leaves of absence so they can serve as security escorts of candidates.

“I  will make sure that they perform professionally for a peaceful election,” he said. “If they will not contribute to that, I am sorry. If you are not going to follow, sige, subukan ninyo.”

The PNP is checking the list of its personnel who have been deployed as security escorts of politicians to determine whether their appointments were authorized. – Emmanuel Tupas