Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil on Monday said there were no stalled elections recorded in the National Capital Region (NCR), adding that the 2025 midterm election remains “generally peaceful.”
"Wala po kaming nakitang delay sa NCR, lahat on time yun eleksiyon natin," Marbil told reporters in an ambush interview at Camp Karingal, Quezon City.
("We did not see any delays in the NCR; all our elections there were on time.")
“Very peaceful. Tuluy-tuloy yung pulis natin, tuluy-tuloy yung huli. Sabi ko nga, lahat ng manggugulo tinatanggal namin and we want arrests. I want more arrests. Walang pwedeng gumulo sa eleksyon," he added.
("Very peaceful. Our police operations are continuous, and arrests are ongoing. As I said, we are removing anyone causing trouble, and we want arrests. I want more arrests. No one should be allowed to disrupt the election.")
Marbil directed all PNP units to ensure the security of the vote canvassing process.
He emphasized that the hours between 6 p.m. and midnight on 12 May are critical for police operations.
"By 6 p.m., we will have more personnel. We want a full force in place by 6 p.m. until 12 midnight for the counting,” Marbil noted.
“By 7 o’clock, the counting will begin. That’s really when we need more people. Our police officers will be fully focused,” he continued.
Marbil said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has prepared contingency measures in response to reports of automated counting machine (ACM) malfunctions on election day.
“Merong contingency ang Comelec pagkamay problemang ganun. So, lahat doing good naman yung eleksyon," he pointed out.
("Comelec has contingencies in place in case problems like that arise. So far, the elections are going well.")
The PNP chief added that he does not foresee any failure of elections.
“Wala. Makikita mong tuluy-tuloy at very strong ang enforcement ng armed forces, coast guard and PNP with the help of Comelec," Marbil said.
("None. You can see that the enforcement by the armed forces, coast guard, and PNP is continuous and very strong, with the help of Comelec.")