PNP: 100% ready to secure polls; int’l observers gear up

It’s all systems go for Monday’s midterm polls, Malacanang said as the Philippine National Police starts its “full deployment” on the ground today to ensure the security of elections.

“Our teachers and Education personnel and the entire government force will be there to safeguard, support, and protect our elections,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

She said DepEd is deploying its Election Task Force nationwide on Sunday for real-time monitoring and incident response.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Public Attorney’s Office are also on standby to provide free legal aid to teachers facing harassment or legal threats.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said every plan to ensure a peaceful and orderly May 12 midterm polls is now in place, especially the deployment of around 163,000 police personnel across the country.

Marbil made the assurance as he spearheaded the activation of the PNP Media Action Center at Camp Crame’s Command Center yesterday.

The Media Action Center will function as a centralized hub for real-time information dissemination and media coordination throughout the election period to ensure transparency, rapid response, and public awareness.

The PNP also activated its National Election Monitoring Action Center (NEMAC) that will serve as the real-time monitoring of the situation across the country to ensure immediate response during and after May 12.

“We are 100 percent complete. We are prepared for the elections,” Marbil said.

He said the PNP’s goal is zero violence during election day, adding that they have not monitored any threat.

The Palace also issued a strong reminder to the public to remain vigilant against the spread of disinformation, particularly online, in the run-up to the elections on Monday.

“Fake news has not only emerged in recent days—it has been spreading for quite some time, especially against the President and the government,” Castro said.

“Our foremost advice is to be discerning, to stay vigilant, and to not sell your dignity or your country,” she added.

The PCO official cautioned the public against falling victim to online misinformation or disinformation campaigns, including those propagated by so-called “keyboard warriors” who aim to undermine the administration by fabricating stories and stirring negative sentiment.

“The government does not shut its doors to criticism, as long as it is based on facts… What we must guard against are fake news peddlers,” Castro said.

“Let us fight fake news so that you can make informed and sound decisions this election day,” she added.

As this developed, the Philippine Ports Authority said it is expecting over 1.1 million passengers to flock to PPA-controlled ports during May 12 elections.

In a situation report, the PPA said a total of 1,155,238 port passengers are expected to journey in PPA ports from May 9 to 13 – an increase of five percent compared to the 1,100,227 maritime passengers during the 2022 elections.

To date, the Port Management Office (PMO) Panay/Guimaras has recorded the highest number of passenger traffic at 182,359, followed by PMO Batangas with 110,125, PMO Bicol with 94,543, PMO Mindoro with 89,482, and PMO Bohol with 77,619.

In particular, PPA reported long lines of passengers at the Matnog Port under PMO Bicol since May 2, with additional ships requested to ply the Matnog, Sorsogon – Allen, Northern Samar route.

For its part, the European Union has deployed 104 more “short-term” observers for the polling and canvassing proper of the midterm elections, bringing to 226 its total election experts in the Philippines.

The 104 short-term observers will cover all regions in both urban and rural areas to augment the 72 long-term observers the bloc deployed mid-April.

“They will enhance the mission’s presence, reach, and capacity on election day, as well as during the polling, automated counting, and canvassing of results,” EU election mission’s chief observer and Member of the European Parliament Marta Temido said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

“Constructive recommendations will be the legacy of our mission, offered to the consideration of people and authorities in the same spirit of cooperation and partnership with the Philippines that marks our presence in the country since our arrival,” Temido added.

In addition, a delegation of the European Parliament and 20 accredited members of the diplomatic community from EU member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland will join the EU EOM in the coming days.