SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — The police force of Occidental Mindoro is prepared for the upcoming midterm national and local elections on May 12, 2025, the Occidental Mindoro Police Provincial Office (OMPPO) assures.
“Last Sunday, nagkaroon na po tayo ng deployment…and as of May 9, complete na po yung ating deployment sa lahat ng 196 voting centers [sa probinsya],” Police Major Xelacor Marie Garcia of OMPPO reported.
(Last Sunday, a deployment took place, and as of May 9, our deployment is completed to all 196 voting centers in our province.)
A total of 530 personnel are deployed in the province as part of the Quick Reaction Force (QRF), comprised of police from OMPPO and reinforcements from the Philippine Army, the Regional Maritime Unit, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Regional Mobile Force (RMF) Battalion, and the Special Action Force to ensure a safe election.
Meanwhile, the OMPPO deployed additional personnel to barangays placed under the orange category or areas where there is presence of terrorist groups.
“From ideal two personnel deployed per voting center, ginawa po nating four personnel…then we have QRF also, complemented by Philippine Army at RMF dito po sa ating mga orange category [barangays],” Garcia said.
(From an ideal two personnel deployed per voting center, we deployed four personnel instead. Then we have QRF also, complemented by the Philippine Army and RMF in barangays under the orange category.)
There are 17 barangays placed under the orange category, namely Barangays Burgos, Ligaya, San Nicolas, Malusbong, Batong Buhay, and San Francisco in the municipality of Sablayan; Barangays Iriron, Poypoy, Conception, Malpalon, and Dagupan in Calintaan town, Barangays Manoot and Malawaan in Rizal town; Barangays Monteclaro, Naibuan, and Batasan in San Jose town; and Barangay Purnaga in Magsaysay.
Also, the OMPPO has set up border control points in six areas in the province and 24-hour COMELEC checkpoints for extra security.
“Masasabi ko pong prepared na po ang ating kapulisan para po dito sa ating nalalapit na halalan on Monday and rest assured po na ginagawa po ng ating pwersa ng kapulisan ang lahat lahat para ma-secure po natin na maging maayos, peaceful [and] honest po itong ating midterm national and local election,” Garcia said.
(I can say that our police force is prepared for the upcoming elections on Monday, and rest assured that our force is doing everything to secure an orderly, peaceful, and honest midterm national and local election.) (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA-Occidental Mindoro/Photo courtesy of Occidental Mindoro Police Provincial Office)
