PAGADIAN CITY – “We are 100% ready
to secure the conduct of the May 13, 2013 midterm elections.”
This was declared by Philippine National Police
(PNP) 9 Regional Director Chief Supt. Juanito Vaño in a press conference
following the conduct of the 4th Provincial Joint Security
Coordinating Center (PJSCC) conference at Camp Abelon headquarters held here
last Tuesday.
“In fact if the elections were held today, we
could handle it,” Vaño assured the public.
Vaño said: “With the coordination that we are
making with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Commission on Elections,
Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government and
Department of Public Works and Highways, we can assure the public that we have
safe and fair election on Monday.”
“We have created joint security coordination
centers so we can integrate our security measures for the election,” Vaño added.
Asked if the PNP has enough men to secure PCOS
machines, as part of the agency’s drive to beef up security in specific areas,
Vaño replied that some 151 men have been deployed in the province to address
security problems.
Vaño
said the AFP would also deploy troops in the areas to secure PCOS machines.
“With our combined strength, we can also provide
security to the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) who will carry the ballots
and accountable forms from the municipal halls to their respective polling
precincts,” Vaño assured the public.
He said the PNP and military personnel will be in
their proper uniforms during the election day.
“In case of any eventuality, we have the ‘quick
reaction forces’ that are ready to respond to any emergencies,” Vaño
reported.
With the presence of combined forces in polling
places, Vaño expressed optimism that no major untoward incident can disrupt the
May 13 polls.
Attending the said conference were 1st
Infantry Tabak Division Commander BGen. Daniel Lucero, Zamboanga del Sur PNP
Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Thomas
Abellar, Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Dinah Sapong, DILG Provincial
Director Abcede Asjali, and Schools Division Superintendent Arturo Bayocot. (PIA9)