PNP chief seeks enhanced coordination for peaceful polls

PALO, Leyte, April 22 (PNA) -– Police Director General Ricardo Marquez emphasized during his latest visit to the police regional command here Thursday that ensuring the peaceful conduct of the May 9 elections is not just under the scope of responsibility of the police but also of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

This, through a joint guideline agreed to by the three agencies this month to supervise peace and security efforts for the May 9 elections.

These same guidelines, Marquez said, was among the directives he reiterated with police officials in the region during the meeting, particularly in creating and implementing a joint security plan in the area, for all facets of the elections.

“Together with the Comelec and AFP, we would like to emphasize that this is not only PNP. We are once again giving more life and power to this partnership with this joint letter directive as we join forces in securing the communities with the conduct of this national exercise," Marquez said in a press briefing with the local media.

Under the AFP-PNP Joint Operational Guidelines, Joint Security Control Centers (JSCC) in all regions will be activated to oversee internal security and counter-terrorism operations by both agencies.

The public may also report violations of election laws, such as the firearm ban, through text messages to their respective JSCCs.

Police and military forces are also expected to establish joint checkpoints with Comelec and organize a task group dedicated to the dismantling of identified Private Armed Groups (PAGs).

The guidelines also define the decorum expected of AFP and PNP personnel during the election period.

Meanwhile, the police chief downplayed reports that killings are rampant in Samar province, particularly in the City of Calbayog.

Marquez said that contrary to claims that killings happen "everyday" in the city, thus earning for it the monicker “Killbayog”, there has only been a number of killings disproving that shooting and killing spree occur on a daily basis.

“The figure does not say it happens that way. Di naman araw-araw. It would be unfair to say that for Calbayog and for the rest of the province,” Marquez said.

He, however, assures, together with the local leadership of the PNP-8 that there are enough security forces deployed to Samar province to ensure the peaceful conduct of the May 9 polls.

The province, particularly towns in the first district, have earlier been identified as elections area of concern. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/AHLETTE C. REYES/EGR