President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has declared May 12, election day, a special non-working holiday nationwide to allow citizens to vote in the upcoming national and local elections.
The declaration was made through Proclamation No. 878, signed yesterday by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on behalf of the President.
It seeks to ensure that Filipinos have sufficient time to participate in the electoral process.
“There is a need to declare Monday, 12 May 2025, as a special (non-working) holiday to enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote,” the proclamation stated.
The proclamation was officially issued from Malacañang and certified by the Malacañang Records Office.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will implement a “full deployment” of its personnel tomorrow, ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.
In a statement yesterday, PNP chief, Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil, said: “The PNP has been on full alert status since May 3, and we are now entering the most crucial phase of our preparations.”
“By May 8, we will begin the full deployment of our personnel on the ground to secure polling precincts, vital installations, and other areas of concern,” he added.
Marbil reminded police personnel that the campaign period is set to end on May 10 and a liquor ban will take effect on May 11.
The national police chief also reminded police officers to shy away from partisan politics and simply focus on their duties of maintaining the peace.
“The core mission of the PNP during elections is twofold: to ensure public safety and maintain political neutrality. We are not here to serve political interests—we are here to serve the Filipino people and protect democracy,” Marbil said.
He warned that any police officer found actively supporting candidates will immediately be charged with administrative cases, and may even be dismissed from service.
As this developed, the Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region announced that 7,000 members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Philippine Coast Guard will be deployed for election security duties.
Regional police chief, Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, said uniformed personnel are ready to be mobilized to polling centers for the safekeeping of ballots and Automated Counting Machines (ACM), among other activities related to the election.
He disclosed that there are two local government units in the region that are considered “election areas of concern” – the town of La Libertad and the city of Guihulngan in Negros Oriental.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “PBBM declares May 12 ‘special non-working holiday’ for midterm polls.”
