ALL SET AND READY. The Capiz Provincial Joint Security Control Center chaired by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) convenes on Monday (May 2, 2022) for a final coordinating conference. Lawyer Salud Milagros Villanueva, Capiz Provincial Election Supervisor (3rd from left) said they discussed the final deployment of forces for the elections set for May 9. (Photo courtesy of 12IB, PA)
ILOILO CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Capiz convened the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) on Monday for a final coordinating conference with the ceremonial sendoff of its security forces as among the highlights.
“It is just a ceremonial or symbolic event, basically meant to showcase not only the assets of our security forces or people who will be securing our elections, but also to manifest the readiness of all the stakeholders in holding the May 9 elections," said lawyer Salud Milagros Villanueva, Capiz Provincial Election Supervisor.
During the May 9 elections, close to 2,000 security forces from the Philippine Army (PA) and Philippine National Police (PNP) will secure the province’s 464 voting centers, 18 canvassing areas, and provincial and municipal monitoring action centers, while the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will also deploy its water assets.
The PNP’s national operational support units will deploy personnel while the Bureau of Fire Protection will be on standby, "not to mention our quick-reaction forces that are ready to respond in case of any untoward incident,” Villanueva said.
During the conference, they also discussed the final deployment of forces, especially to those areas of concern, she added.
Four municipalities in Capiz have been identified as such -- Maayon, Tapaz and Dumalag, which are under the "orange" category, and Pilar, which is under the "yellow" classification.
Pilar has a history of intense political rivalry while those classified under orange have presence of armed groups, particularly the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). (PNA)
