NCRPO puts 20,000 cops on alert for elections

EXPECT Metro Manila to be swarming with policemen in the days leading to May 13 as the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced yesterday the deployment of 10,000 men in uniform.

Another 10,000, on the other hand, will be focused on keeping peace and order and anti-criminality operations.

In a statement, NCRPO chief Director Leonardo Espina said that security plans and programs to ensure the orderly and smooth conduct of the elections had been presented to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the National Capital Region-Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center which would oversee poll-related activities.

At the same time, he instructed police district directors in Metro Manila during a security briefing at the NCRPO head- quarters in Taguig City to always seek guidance from the Comelec.

“With the guidance of PNP chief [Director General Alan] Purisima and Comelec, the NCRPO works hard so that the ultimate goal of the election will not be hindered by any security concern… Let us work together to protect the people’s votes,” Espina said.

He also reminded Metro Manila policemen to be very vig- ilant and alert and respond quickly and appropriately to any situation that may arise during the conduct of the polls on May 13.

The 10,000 police officers to be deployed during the elections will come from augmentation forces of the Philippine National Police headquarters, Regional Training School, Philippine National Police Academy and Regional Public Safety Battalion.

According to Espina, these po- licemen will primarily perform election duties and strictly implement poll laws while the 10,000 other policemen will focus on anticriminality operations.

He said the 20,000 policemen would be on full alert to ensure the region’s security before, during and after the elections.

Espina also ordered the police district directors to establish their own joint security assistance desks (JSAD) in coordina- tion with city and municipal election officers.

He stressed that one of the responsibilities of the police and JSADs was the application and implementation of search warrants against any identified Private Armed Group and hired goons in the metropolis.

Earlier, Espina said that no poll “hot spot” had been declared in Metro Manila which is traditionally peaceful during election time.