ILOILO CITY (PIA) -- The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 will be deploying more than 12,000 personnel to ensure safe, peaceful and orderly May 9, 2022 polls.
The start of the augmentation and deployment was confirmed during the recent simultaneous multi-agency send-off and turn-over ceremonies at PRO 6 Grandstand, Camp Gen Martin Teofilo B. Delgado in Iloilo City.
The activity was participated in by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Commissions on Elections (COMELEC).
According to PRO 6 Regional Public Information Office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Solis, through a press release, the deployment of police personnel is to secure the voting centers and some will act as mobile security teams in this election.
Others will be designated to man the election monitoring action centers, while there will be those to be detailed at the provincial and city electoral boards.
PRO 6 also prepared quick response teams and reserve forces in support of the actual needs and demands of the situation on the ground.
During the program, the PRO 6 regional director Police Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo reminded the personnel to secure the national and local elections, especially the areas considered election areas of concern.
“To all of you, who will be deployed, always remember that the opportunity to hold an election is a sacred gift. Upholding the sanctity of the ballots is our supreme duty as men and women in uniform. Therefore, it is our chance to showcase our competence, professionalism, and dedication as the country’s best men and women in the PNP,” Dongbo stressed.
Present also during the said event were COMELEC 6 regional election director lawyer Wilfred Jay Balisado, Area Police Command-Visayas deputy commander Police Major General Remus Zacharias Canieso, Army’s 3rd Infantry Division commander Major General Benedict Arevalo, and Coast Guard District Western Visayas commander Commodore Edgar L Ybañez.
Each of the present commanders delivered their respective send-off messages to their men and women on service and reiterated the call for them to remain apolitical and non-partisan while rendering duty.
On the other hand, with a few days away from the polls and all preparations put in place, Atty. Balisado hopes that everyone will give justice to their respective mandate to secure the exercise of votes in Western Visayas.
“Your tasks are very important because you played a vital role in maintaining peace and order during the activity. Be safe and let us all pray that there will be no untoward incident to happen during the elections,” the COMELEC 6 head added. (AAL/FRG/PIA6/Story and Photos from PRO6-RPIO)
