POLL DUTY. Some of the uniformed personnel deployed for election duties in Eastern Visayas during the send-off ceremony in Palo, Leyte on Wednesday (May 4, 2022). They are tasked to secure the May 9 national and local elections in six provinces and seven cities. (PNA Photo by Sarwell Meniano)
PALO, Leyte – Security agencies sent off on Wednesday thousands of troops and personnel tasked to secure the May 9 national and local elections in six provinces and seven cities in Eastern Visayas.
During a send-off ceremony at the police regional office headquarters here, key officials urged uniformed men and public-school teachers to ensure peaceful and orderly elections.
“We are not just officially sending troops and resources to help the Commission on Elections (Comelec), we also recognize the dependable coordination and support shared by various agencies. We have come prepared, and we are now ready to answer the call of election duty,” Police Regional Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said.
The police force is deploying about 10,000 of its personnel to man checkpoints, polling places and precincts in the region.
On the part of the Philippine Army, 8th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Edgardo de Leon said the nearly 6,000 soldiers will be assigned to remote communities with threats of armed groups and rebels.
“We will not favor any candidate. Our goal is to give everyone the chance to cast their vote. We in the uniformed services working as one with the non-uniformed services patch up gaps since we expect the intensification of political rivalry days before the election day,” de Leon added.
The ceremonial send-off also included the deployment of Philippine Coast Guard personnel authorized to use land vehicles and rubber boats, aluminum boats, and small watercraft, if requested by the Comelec or local government units for logistical purposes.
Also on duty are the 12,542 public school teachers in Eastern Visayas trained on how to operate vote counting machines, other members of electoral boards, and support staff from the Department of Education.
“The task is not easy since we have over three million registered voters in the region. Performing your duties will entail sacrifices, but we need to have the courage to surmount the burden of facing the challenges that may lie ahead,” Comelec assistant regional director Felicisimo Embalsado said during the ceremony.
The region has 3,166,262 registered voters who will cast their votes in 6,271 clustered precincts established in 4,390 villages. (PNA)
