BSKE: PNP to deploy 187,500 personnel

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 187,500 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel will be deployed across the country during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the number of PNP personnel to be mobilized during the BSKE is higher compared to those deployed during the May 2022 national and local elections.

Acorda and other PNP officials submitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday the list of areas that may be declared as election hot spots.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body would come out with the final list of election areas of concern by the end of this month.

Garcia had earlier said Negros Oriental, due to politically motivated killings including that of governor Roel Degamo, along with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are among those being considered as election hot spots.

He said not all areas of concern would automatically be placed under Comelec control.

PNP directorate for operations chief Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco said the police had identified 27 election areas of concern.

Francisco said the list is not yet final and may either increase or decrease.

He said Malabang, Lanao del Sur is not on the list of areas of concern.

A shooting incident, supposedly to stop the filing of certificates of candidacy, was monitored in the town on Sept. 1.

However, Garcia maintained that Malabang should be listed under the ”red” areas of concern.

He said his position to place the town under Comelec control does not change despite a contrary asssessment of the PNP.

Garcia said he respects the assessment of the PNP, but stressed the need to place Malabang under Comelec control, noting that election laws have been violated.

Aside from the suspects in the shooting who have surrendered, Garcia said the Comelec is looking at the involvement of certain politicians.

He said the Comelec would await the suggestion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard and reconcile it with the PNP recommendation.