PNP on full alert in preparation for May 13 polls

With Election Day just one week away, the Philippine National Police went on full alert Monday morning to prepare to secure the electoral exercise. The PNP's full alert status took effect at 6 a.m., radio dzBB's Tuesday Niu reported. Under a full alert status, all leaves are canceled and all personnel should be at their posts. A separate news release on the PNP website said the full alert condition "will remain in effect until after election security operations had been completed." "Police regional directors were given the authority to extend the effectivity of the Full Alert status depending on the prevailing situation in their areas of responsibility," the PNP added. Also on Monday, the PNP activated the media operations center of Task Force SAFE 2013 (Secure and Fair Elections), at the second floor of Camp Crame's multi-purpose hall. The PNP earlier said it is deploying 30,000 personnel for the May 13 elections. In Metro Manila, meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office split its 20,000 personnel to do poll duty and to watch out against petty crime during the May 13 elections, radio dzBB's Divine Caraecle reported. Metro Manila police chief Director Leonardo Espina said he has given instructions to his district directors to seek guidance from the Commission on Elections on the deployment of the 10,000 personnel on poll duty. Espina added they are not discounting the possibility criminals may exploit authorities' concentration in ensuring clean and peaceful elections. — BM, GMA News