PNP to lower alert level on Wednesday; AFP to keep red alert status

As the situation in most parts of the country returned to normal after the elections, the Philippine National Police is set to downgrade its alert status on Wednesday.

“Dahil nga sa assessment ng PNP na parating na sa normal situation, back to normal na, sa part ng PNP pwedeng i-downgrade ang alert level," PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said in a press conference Tuesday.

"That could probably tomorrow para ibaba yung full alert status, again, this shows pabalik na tayo sa normal,” he added.

Despite the possible downgrade of alert status, Mayor assured the public the PNP would continue to secure the ballots until the last of these reach the House of Representatives for the national canvassing.

“We shall continue to be in the state of full preparedness until this electoral exercise is over,” PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said in a statement.

“We are now lowering our guards yet an all security measures will be similarly implemented in the succeeding days and weeks until the official culmination of the election period on June 8,” he added.

On the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, acting Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda said the military would remain on red alert.

“We are on a red alert now. As to when we are going to downgrade the alert, that all depends on the  circumstances surrounding the environment right now," Miranda said.

"It all depends on the development on the surrounding environment,” he added in a separate press conference.

The PNP and AFP have been deputized by the Commission on Elections to ensure the peaceful and credible conduct of the May 9 polls.

Under Resolution No.10020, the Comelec tasked the PNP to provide personnel to secure its officials who are likely targets of election-related violence.

The PNP also secured voting, canvassing and consolidation centers manned by the Comelec. It guarded all election paraphernalia, including ballot boxes.

The AFP was deputized by the Comelec through Resolution No. 10021, to augment security efforts particularly in election hot spots in Visayas and Mindanao.

One member of the AFP was killed while securing the ballots.

Private Louieden Quebec was killed on May 8 when his team was hit by a landmine while delivering election equipment in Northern Samar.

His companion Private First Class Michael Cagata was wounded in the incident.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Ariel Cayton and Sergeant Jovintino Cerafic were wounded in an encounter with alleged NPA members in Irosin, Matnog, Sorsogon while they were conducting election patrol with their team on May 9.

The PNP and AFP earlier said that the national and local elections are generally peaceful. —NB, GMA News