10,000 NorMin cops deployed for elections

THE Northern Mindanao police has began the deployment of more than 10,000 personnel to various polling centers in Northern Mindanao, four days before the election day on Monday.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Surki Serenas, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) said the full deployment will be on Friday, May 10.

"Nagsugod naman atong deployment pero ang full deployment gyud is May 10,"Serenas said.

PRO-Northern Mindanao director Brigadier General Timoteo Pacleb yesterday ordered the deployment of more than 8,000 policemen to secure the polling centers in the region.

Pacleb's order came after the final AFP-PNPComelec coordinating conference and send-off ceremony of personnel, early Monday.

"The PNP will secure all polling places and will take necessary steps to protect our voters from threats, intimidation, coercion or harassment for them to be able to freely express their will,"Pacleb said.

“Security of the voters is of primary importance in the protection of their right to vote and we must safeguard not only the voters but the entire election process,”he added.

The region’s top cop also reiterated his call for PNP personnel to avoid getting involved in partisan politics.

Pacleb is confident that the election in the region will be safe and orderly.

“We will never encourage political patronage to insulate our ranks from political influence and save ourselves of unnecessary conflict,”Pacleb said.

“We have enough personnel to secure the election and our coordination with AFP and Comelec is constant,”he added.

In Cagayan de Oro City, around 1,000 personnel have assembled yesterday at the headquarters of the city police office for the final briefing before they will be deployed in their respective assignments for the midterm polls.