SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) –The Police Regional Office (PRO) 1 is steadfast in ensuring a peaceful and orderly 2025 Midterm Elections in the Ilocos Region.
According to PLtCol Benigno Sumawang, chief of the PRO-1 Public Information Office, a total of 8,707 police officers will be deployed in the Ilocos Region to secure the upcoming May 12, 2025 polls.
“They will be deployed to man Commission on Election (COMELEC) checkpoints, warehouses and offices, and provincial/city/municipal treasurer’s offices, and also as Reactionary Standby Support Force and Quick Reaction Teams,” Sumawang said during an episode of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 1’s Kapihan sa Ilocos program.
Approximately 3,374 police officers will be assigned to Pangasinan; 1,759 to Ilocos Sur; 1,478 to La Union; and 1,428 to Ilocos Norte while 559 will serve in the Regional Mobile Force Battalion and 109 at the regional headquarters.
There are 4,050 established COMELEC checkpoints all over the region.
Sumawang added that additional police forces will be deployed in augmentation across towns and cities in the Ilocos Region classified as areas of concern as needed.
As of Jan. 24, there are 13 areas in the region under the yellow category, with eight located in Pangasinan; three in La Union, and one each for the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
Based on COMELEC Resolution No. 11067, areas under the yellow category are those with the occurrence of suspected election-related incidents (ERI) in the last two elections, the occurrence of politically motivated ERI, or existence of intense partisan political rivalry.
The Philippine National Police is working hand in hand with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to ensure a safe, secure, and orderly conduct of the upcoming polls.
No ERIs have been noted in the Ilocos Region as of Jan 24.
Sumawang also noted that the Ilocos Region is free from threats from private armed groups.
“Per our Regional Intelligence Division, there is no threat or possibility of the formation of private armed groups in the region but we are not discounting any possibilities so we still stand on full vigilance,” Sumawang said.
Moreover, PRO-1 had activated the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC) earlier this month, as the command post that is in-charge of all election-related concerns.
The public may reach the REMAC through its hotline, 09954111501. (CCMT/CGCC, PIA Region 1)
