READY. The personnel of Police Regional Office 1, Philippine Army and Philippine Coast Guard during the send-off ceremony on Oct. 23, 2023 at the Ilocos Police Regional Office in San Fernando City, La Union. Some 8,133 police have been deployed all over the region ahead of the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. (Photo courtesy of PRO-1)
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Some 8,133 police personnel have been deployed in the entire Ilocos Region to ensure peace and order ahead of the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
In a forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency on Thursday, Police Regional Office 1 (PRO 1) Lt. Col. Benigno Sumawang, assistant chief at Regional Community Affairs Development Division, said they have already set up 12,623 checkpoints since the election period started.
He said the police force that will secure the polls include the 453 personnel who have been pulled out from their schooling to render service.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has also deployed 347 personnel while the Philippine Coast Guard positioned 106 personnel as augmentation force.
Sumawang said they have quick response teams that will focus on the 61 villages placed under the yellow category or among the places identified as areas of concerns due to election-related incidents and intense political rivalry.
Meanwhile, Sumawang said they have already arrested 40 gun ban violators and confiscated 53 firearms in their different operations regionwide. (PNA)
