Comelec: Peaceful polls, fast proclamation

With one day to go before the elections and over 30 poll hotspots or “red” areas of concern, the Philippine National Police declared it is on full alert, deploying more than 160,000 cops nationwide to ensure a peaceful and orderly midterm polls.

Commission on Elections chairman George Garcia, however, expressed confidence that the May 12 elections will be peaceful and orderly.

“We believe our elections will be peaceful. We expect that the voting will finish early and the proclamation will also be fast,” he said in a television interview yesterday.

“Let us have faith in the system and process, and don’t believe in the lies being spread around now, especially organized misinformation, disinformation, and fake news,” he added.

The International Observer Mission (IOM), however, raised concerns about cases of vote-buying, red-tagging, and election-related violence ahead of the polls.

According to the IOM, it has independently confirmed 18 vote-buying incidents in addition to the 158 complaints already received by Comelec — with money changing hands as high as P5,000 per voter. It also recorded 577 cases of red-tagging.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines also heightened its security operations across Sulu and Basilan ahead of Monday’s midterm polls.

“Our forces are in full security posture. Our land, maritime, and aerial capabilities are fully deployed and mission-ready to counter any disruption before, during, and after election day. The Alakdan Division and JTF Orion stand firm in protecting the sanctity of every vote and the safety of every voter,” 11ID and Joint Task Force Orion Commander Maj. Gen. Leonardo Peña said.

Majority of the “red” areas of concern or those with a presence of serious armed threats as well as suspected election-related incidents or intense political rivalries or potential hiring of private armed groups are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Of the BARMM hotspots, two were placed under Comelec control, namely Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte and Buluan in Maguindanao del Sur.

For his part, PNP Director for Police Community Relations Maj. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba on Saturday said they are “all hands on deck” for the May 12 elections.

Aside from the police deployed on election day, “a “sizable number” of reserve forces in every PNP headquarters are on call and ready to augment the number, if necessary, he added.

Aside from securing peace and order in polling areas, the PNP-Anti Cybercrime Group also joins patrols on election day to keep watch against possible spying activities.

As of May 8, the PNP has apprehended some 2,863 gun ban violators, 195 of whom were arrested at checkpoints.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil previously visited Police Regional Office 8 in Leyte and Police Regional Office 7 in Cebu to personally oversee the final stages of election security preparations.

“Our mission is clear: Deliver secure, accurate, free, and fair elections. Zero election-related violence. That is our goal, and we will achieve it through unity, discipline, and unwavering commitment,” Marbil said.

In addition, the Philippine Army is prepared to augment the security forces on the ground with its contingency force, composed of the Civil Disturbance Management, K-9, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Medical, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear teams.

A total of 31 assets such as military trucks and ambulances are placed on standby while the Philippine Army emergency response companies are under blue alert from May 11 to May 14.

Various Philippine Army major units have deployed 23, 591 personnel to perform election duties across the country while another 21,509 personnel are on standby alert.

Army units for the 2025 polls are operating under dual modes — election mode and combat mode — to ensure they perform electoral duties while sustaining internal security operations.

“We are committed to maintaining national stability by continuing our operations against threat groups while also assisting with the transport of poll materials and ensuring the safety of election personnel,” Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said in a statement.

The Philippine Red Cross, for its part, said it will deploy over 2,000 staff and volunteers across the country for the midterm polls.

PRC will also set up 291 first aid stations and 146 welfare desks in airports, arenas, barangay halls, bus terminals, PRC Chapters, event places, highways, malls, parks, schools, and train stations.

Red Cross 143 volunteers in every barangay will also remain on high alert.