All police units across the country will remain on full alert status throughout the post-election period in June, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Saturday.
The PNP also deployed over 160,000 police officers nationwide to help maintain a peaceful and orderly election process and ensure security in its aftermath.
PNP Director for Police Community Relations Maj. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba said the entire police organization is “all hands on deck” and fully prepared to respond to any incidents that may arise before, during, and after the 12 May elections.
On top of the cops being deployed for elections, Alba noted a “sizable number” of reserve forces stationed at every PNP headquarters are on standby and ready to be mobilized if needed.
The number of identified areas of concern has decreased to around 370, a significant drop from the more than 800 listed earlier in the election period.
As of 8 May, the PNP has arrested around 2,863 individuals for violating the gun ban, with 195 apprehended at checkpoints.
PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil ordered the implementation of a "zero election-related violence."
"That is our goal, and we will achieve it through unity, discipline, and unwavering commitment,” he said.
Marbil earlier visited Police Regional Office 8 in Leyte and Police Regional Office 7 in Cebu to personally oversee the final preparations for election security.