BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Baguio City Joint Security Command Center(CJSCC) has been activated in preparation for the May 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE).
Baguio City Election Officer lawyer John Paul Martin with Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) Director PCol. Ruel Tagel and Lt. Col. Omar Hagada from the Philippine Army, convened key government agencies and security forces composing the Baguio CJSCC to synchronize efforts and enhance security strategies and ensure a peaceful, orderly electoral process in the city.
During the meeting, the BCPO presented the Security Plans for the May 2025 NLE including the deployment plans of the police personnel, the security measures for the vote counting machines and election paraphernalia, and the polling places and election personnel.
The BCPO highlighted that Baguio City remains generally peaceful during the election season as the city has no issues and concerns on the intense political rivalries, private armed groups and political hotspots.
Tagel thanked the people of Baguio as well as the political leaders for their cooperation which placed Baguio City in a “green zone”, which means no problem and cause for concern during elections.
He called on the different stakeholders including the CJSCC member-agencies as well as the general public to continue the good collaboration and cooperation to ensure a successful election in May 2025.
The COMELEC presented the preparations for the May 2025 NLE including the latest guidlines on the implementation of the gun ban, checkpoints and other pertinent COMELEC resolutions.
While Baguio City is among the most peaceful areas during elections, Martin appealed to the public, the residents, the aspiring leaders and their supporters to ensure that the city will remain as peaceful as it is during the election.
He also called on the CJSCC members not to be complacent and ensure that the election process will be successful through the support of each other.
Martin said that to date, Baguio has a total of 166,416 registered voters. There will be 1,026 established precincts and 232 clustered precincts with 60 voting centers for the May 2025 NLE.
Also present during the meeting were representatives from the Department of Education, Dept. of the Interior and Local Government, Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, Dept. of Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Information Agency and the Baguio City Treasurer’s Office who vowed full support for the successful election in Baguio City.
In the same event, the COMELEC also held a demonstration of the vote counting machines that will be used during the upcoming election. The CJSCC members participated in the mock election. (JDP/RMC-PIA CAR)
