PNP monitoring intensified as local campaign for Eleksyon 2022 starts

Over 18,000 local positions are up for grabs as the campaign period for candidates seeking these positions starts on Friday, March 25.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), monitoring efforts will be intensified for this period to see possible violations on the part of the candidates and their supporters.

“Inaasahan natin na mas magiging maigting ang pagbabantay ng PNP at iba pang hanay ng law enforcement agencies lalo na po ngayon na umpisa na nga po ng local campaign period,” said PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo on Dobol B TV.

(We are expecting that the PNP and other law enforcement agencies will intensify monitoring especially now that the local campaign period has started.)

Fajardo said the PNP is expecting challenges since both local and national candidates will now do campaign activities.

In a separate interview, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia said the rules for campaigning will be permissive as Alert Level 1 and 2 are being implemented in the country.

“Magpapatupad tayo ng kaunting kaluwagan sa pangangampanya kung saan kapag Level 1 at Level 2, hindi na po kayo kukuha ng tinatawag na Comelec campaign committee permit. Kukuha lang po kayo ng LGU permit ninyo,” hes aid.

(We will implement more permissive rules for the campaign, where in areas under Alert Level 1 and 2, organizers do not have to obtain Comelec campaign committee permit, only LGU permit.)

Under Alert Level 1, 100% capacity of the venue is allowed, while under Alert Level 2, 70% is allowed, according to Garcia.

Hugging, kissing, “arm-to-arm,” contact and taking selfies are however prohibited in campaign activities.

Minimum public health standards, disinfection, and social distancing should still be implemented during the campaign rallies, Garcia said.

No threat

Meanwhile, according to Fajardo, the PNP has monitored no "credible threat" that may disrupt the May 9 elections.

“Sa ngayon, wala tayong nakikitang credible threat na maaaring makapag-influence o makapag-disrupt sa gagawin nating eleksyon sa Mayo,” she said.

(So far, no credible threat that may influence or disrupt the elections in May has been monitored.)

In Metro Manila, police said some 4,000 personnel will be deployed to ensure the peaceful conduct of campaign by local candidates.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Felipe Natividad said police officers are ready and equipped to patrol and monitor their area of responsibilities.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier urged the public to report to authorities the use of government resources, including manpower, material, and financial, in campaign activities.

Año said they have received reports that some vehicles of local government units are being used for campaign rallies. —KBK, GMA News