CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — To secure credible national and local elections, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Police Regional Office (PRO)-10 looks to new digital technologies to apprehend suspected election-related violations, particularly vote buying and selling in the region.
“Online vote buying definitely may mga traces pa din ‘yan, lahat naman ng krimen they lead to marks. So with all this evidence, we need to collect it,” said PRO-10 Regional Director PBGen Jaysen de Guzman.
(Online vote buying will definitely leave traces behind; all crimes lead to marks. So with all this evidence, we need to collect it.)
De Guzman emphasized that the PNP PRO-10 needs the support of other government agencies in getting all this evidence in order to file cases against suspected election-related violators.
“How challenging? We need to get the evidence that we need to effect the arrest for the violations,” he said.
PRO-10 turns to technology, with the deployment of body cameras, especially in checkpoints. Recordings from these gadgets may be used as evidence, and so is the use of alternative devices like smartphones.
The Philippine News Agency reports that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has classified 103 towns in the region as “areas of concern” for the May 2025 midterm elections, an official announced, February 5.
The call for unity and solidarity
To ensure clean, peaceful, and credible midterm elections, PRO-10, along with other national government agencies and civil society organizations, launched the 100 Days Operational Activities and Solidarity Pact Signing for the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE) and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Parliamentary Elections (BARMM PE), February 5, at Camp 1Lt Vicente G. Alagar, Lapasan, here.
This is in response to PNP-10’s call for all unit commanders, force multipliers, and community stakeholders to unite and strengthen proactive and intelligence-driven security measures for the upcoming midterm elections, May 12.
“As a nonpartisan organization, we uphold neutrality, guided by the core values of service, honor, and justice. Lahat ay dapat bigyan ng seguridad (We must provide security for everybody),” said PRO-10 Regional Director PBGen Jaysen de Guzman.
In addition, PRO-10 Chief of the Regional Public Information Office PMaj. Joan G. Navarro assures the public that COMELEC checkpoints are being conducted regularly in provinces, cities, and municipal police stations across the region.
She added that as of February 5, PRO-10 has not received any reports of suspected election-related incidents that occurred in the city.
“Dako kana nga butang nga ang atong election climate diri dili ingon ana ka intense. Dako pud kaayo nga butang ang kaning mga security measures nga atong gipatuman kauban sa atong mga kapulisan, kauban atong kasundaluhan, Philippine Coast Guard, and other law enforcement agencies, ubay-ubay gyud ang mga checkpoints nga naka set-up sa nagkalain-laing areas sa Region 10,” she said.
(It’s a big thing that the election climate here is not that intense. It is a big thing that our security measures that we have implemented with our police personnel, the army, the Philippine Coast Guard, and other law enforcement agencies are setting up numerous checkpoints in different areas in Region 10.)
Navarro underscored that the communities’ cooperation is vital to law enforcement operations, especially in the reporting of possible violations to the COMELEC gun ban and other suspected election-related incidents.
The Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process.
BGen Michele B. Anayron Jr., commander of the 4ID, said, “It is a commitment to defend the sanctity of the ballot. We are bound by our duty, and that is to ensure a peaceful, fair, and transparent electoral process. We all play a big role in this 2025 election.”
Anayron assures the public that the 4th Infantry Division will remain vigilant and steadfast in their commitment to providing a safe and secure election.
Representing COMELEC-10 Regional Election Director Renato A. Magbutay, Lawyer Maria Dulce Cuevas-Banzon, assistant regional election director of COMELEC-10, emphasized the need to strengthen the implementation of the campaign rules and regulations.
“It has to be free, honest, credible, peaceful, and organized. We need to strengthen the implementation of the Commission’s campaign against Kontra Bigay, which means against vote selling and vote buying,” said Banzon.
On checkpoints
Entrepreneur Gemima Lopez, who frequently travels as a wedding supplier, said checkpoints are needed to provide an environment and atmosphere of safety and security to everyone, most especially during elections.
“This will surely minimize it; it might not totally eliminate it, but the potential threat and violence related to the election will be minimized. Their presence in the area will contribute to a fair and orderly election,” Lopez said.
She said her recent experience, traveling from Laguindingan to Cagayan de Oro City, was fairly good. “Police officers did their job by checking the passengers inside the vehicle and did a little interview with the driver. It was quick but was satisfactory,” Lopez added.
For his part, photographer and content creator Earl Ryan Janubas, who travels via motorbike, thinks that COMELEC checkpoints are beneficial to the public.
“It could flag down any suspicious vehicle that might be used in crimes; it can also potentially block escaping criminals who utilize an escape vehicle,” said Janubas.
Known for traveling to scenic locations in Mindanao, Janubas said he did not encounter any problems passing through checkpoints as he always brings his unexpired license and updated official receipt and certificate of registration.
The campaign period for national positions is from February 11 to May 10 and March 28 to May 10 for the local positions, all except April 17, Maundy Thursday, and April 18, Good Friday. (DCC/SAYU/PIA-10)
