By Lore Mae Andong,
ABS-CBN News Central Mindanao
MAGUINDANAO, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanaothe (PNP-ARMM) is already ironing out its security preparations for the May 13 polls.
Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Noel Delos Reyes told ABS-CBN News Wednesday that they have determined a need for 13,000 personnel to be deployed on election day.
However, there are only 7,000 policemen available in the region.
The official said the issue was already brought up to higher authorities.
Other than the deficit in the police force, another problem is the inaccessibility of some polling centers such as those in far-flung barangays, where election paraphernalia need to be transported much earlier due to poor road conditions.
Delos Reyes said worst are those areas which need choppers just to deliver the election paraphernalia, including the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines.
The PNP-ARMM is now identifying which polling centers might be confronted with this problem.
Poor communication signal in other areas is also being looked into, according to the official.
They are set to conduct a simulation exercise days before the election to find out how fast their response will be and what areas they have to improve on.
The PNP-ARMM will also be in close coordination with the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH). The latter will be tapped if there is a need for coordination, since policemen will be deployed in polling centers in areas controlled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Delos Reyes said they have prepared 300 police personnel in case they need to serve in the elections as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs).
He said they have received information that some BEIs may decline to serve due to their past experiences of threats and intimidation.
"We are just anticipating that there might be a need but they still have to undergo training," he said.
He explained, however, that this will still be the call of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), adding the PNP is just showing its willingness to serve as BEIs if needed.
A joint monitoring center will also be set up in the compound of PRO-ARMM at Camp Bgen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Parang town in Maguindanao to watch and monitor election activities all over the region.
Delos Reyes said all of these will be a challenge to the police force.
He said that while they are preparing for a worse-case scenario, they are still hopeful that the midterm polls will be peaceful and fair.
He added the mid-terms polls will serve as a gauge of what may happen in the 2016 elections.
