Poll security set on Pag-asa island

MANILA, Philippines — Security preparations for the coming midterm elections are all set, even in the country’s remotest municipality in the West Philippine Sea. 

Deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s number three man, and officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday flew to Kalayaan Island to complete security preparations for Monday’s polls.

The officials went to Barangay Pag-asa, the lone barangay in Kalayaan town, to conduct final testing and sealing of vote counting machines and voters’ registration and verification system.

Comelec Commissioners Al Parreño, Antonio Kho and Louie Tito Guia witnessed the final testing and sealing procedure. 

With this, Gamboa, who is commander of the PNP National Security Task Force for the midterm elections, said “it’s green and go nationwide as far as police election security operations are concerned.”

Come Monday, Barangay Pag-asa residents will take part in electing national and local officials, as well as members of the municipal council of Kalayaan.

Barangay Pag-asa is home to more than 200 residents and a municipal police station.