PNP all set for today’s polls in Metro Manila

The Philippine National Police, most especially its five district commands in Metro Manila, is well-prepared for any eventuality in today’s senatorial and local elections.

"We are prepared for the worst. We don’t want to be caught with our guard down," Director Edgar Aglipay, head of the PNP’s directorate for operations, said.

Five police district directors will deploy 600 policemen each in all of the polling precincts of the Commission on Elections in Metro Manila to ensure clean, honest and credible elections.

Aglipay said security in malls in the metropolis has likewise been tightened even if they have received no intelligence reports on impending terrorist attacks.

Two malls — Ever Gotesto Grand Central in Caloocan and Farmers Plaza in Cubao, Quezon City — were bombed the past two Sundays (April 29 and May 6, respectively).

The twin explosions, police said, were the handiwork of terrorists out to destabilize the three-month-old administration of President Arroyo.

Since the Farmers Plaza bombing, some 18 members of the dreaded Martilyo (hammer) gang were rounded up by policemen.

This developed as Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. urged voters yesterday to go to their precincts and vote early to avoid the last-minute rush.

"Each vote is important in preserving and promoting our democracy. It is the responsibility of each citizen who is a qualified voter to come out and be counted," the leading mayoralty bet in Quezon City said.

Aglipay said policemen from the Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central Police Districts will work closely with NGOs, Comelec personnel and teachers in transporting ballot boxes to precincts and designated canvassing areas.

He also revealed that cops assigned to secure oil depots in Pandacan, Manila, just like in several shopping centers, will remain steadfast in guarding their posts.

A standby force, mostly elements of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), would also be ready for deployment at a moment’s notice in the five police districts.

"The standby force will rush to the scene whether the call for help is election-related or a criminal activity," Aglipay said in a phone interview.

Meanwhile, Senior Police Officer 3 Cornelio Hilario Jr. of the Quezon City Hall police detachment expressed belief that the distribution of ballot boxes will be finished on time.

"Everything seems to be in order. However, we still have to be vigilant in case any untoward incidents take place in our area of jurisdiction," he said.

There are 1,080,412 registered voters in 132 barangays in the four districts of Quezon City.

In another sector, NPD Director Senior Supt. Vidal Querol said the Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela (Camanava) police are ready for today’s electoral exercise.

After a breakfast meeting with Camanava police chiefs, he said he ordered the setting up of checkpoints in strategic places to foil attempts by certain groups who want to instigate fraud and violence.

According to him, all the 1,300-strong Camanava police force plus a contingent of 100 additional policemen from PNP headquarters have been deployed in the area.

In Caloocan City, at least 15 checkpoints have been put up as early as yesterday morning; four in Navotas, five in Malabon and seven in Valenzuela City were also put up.

Expected violence spawned by intense rivalry between reelectionist Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo and former Mayor Macario "Boy" Asistio has so far been held in check.

Caloocan Comelec chief Calixtro Ramos earlier said there was no expedient reason to declare Caloocan under Comelec-control since the peace and order situation has not been disturbed by election-related violence.

Camanava has a total of 1,000,820 registered voters. Of this, 524,972 are from Caloocan, 158,570 from Malabon, 88,066 from Navotas and 229,219 from Valenzuela. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jerry Botial and Pete Laude