BONTOC, Mountain Province (PIA) – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) – Mountain Province led the reactivation of the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) to coordinate security preparations to ensure honest, orderly, peaceful, and credible national and local elections in May.
During the first PJSCC meeting on Jan. 23, the Mountain Province Police Provincial Office (MPPPO) through PLtCol. Bernardo Wong, reported on the province’s peace and order situation. He also shared the number of police personnel ready for deployment to address potential risks during the election period and make the May 2025 elections safe.
LtCol. Rean B. Ante of the Philippine Army also reported the insurgency situation of Mountain Province. He assured that the operating troops of the Philippine Army are ready to help in any way for the safe conduct of the midterm polls.
Bontoc Election Officer Atty. Rodante C. Selpaten outlined the prohibited acts during the election period that started on Jan. 12 until June 11, 2025.
Gun ban is imposed nationwide for the whole duration of the election period. Comelec checkpoints will be in effect this time.
Provincial Election Officer lawyer Dexter Cawis said that contingency plans for the May 2025 elections are in place which include back up units of automated counting machine(ACM) should problem arise. Batteries for the ACM are sufficient to last until the last casting of votes, he added.
Municipal election officers, chiefs-of-police, and MPPPO officials led by PCol. Ferdinand N. Oydoc, and Philippine Army personnel attended the meeting and participated in the ACM demonstration.
Mountain Province Schools Division Superintendent Benilda M. Daytaca and Sesvir C. Lopez from the Department of the Interior and Local Government both shared their support and commitment in making the 2025 election period peaceful. (JDP/VJLT-PIA-Mt. Province)
