The Rizal Police Provincial Office held a send-off ceremony Thursday for personnel being deployed to secure the upcoming special election in the second district of Antipolo City.

The 7 a.m. ceremony at the Rizal PPO parade ground was led by Provincial Director Col. Eleazar Barber Jr. and Provincial Election Supervisor Arnulfo Pioquinto. The deployment is part of an intensified security plan to ensure the 14 March polls remain orderly and peaceful.

The event included a formal troop inspection and blessing of equipment to verify the force’s readiness for potential contingencies. Rizal Governor Nina Ricci Ynares also attended the ceremony, signaling coordination between the provincial government, law enforcement, and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“I am grateful for the dedication and steadfast commitment of the police force in maintaining peace and order for these elections,” Pioquinto said.

Following the ceremony, Barber led security assistance for an ocular inspection at the Rizal Provincial Capitol conducted by Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia.

The special election was called to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Romeo Acop, who died in December.

According to Comelec, seven candidates have filed their certificates of candidacy — Dandin Infante, Reden Llaga, Lorenzo Sumulong III, Ma. Trinidad Galang, Philip Conrad Acop, Nathaniel Lobigas and Irvin Paulo Tapales.