PNP: No major incident on first day of campaign period for local elections

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday said that the first day of the  campaign period for the local elections last Friday, March 25 was generally peaceful as it recorded no major untoward incident across the country.

PNP chief Police General Dionardo Carlos said the assessment was made based on reports submitted by the regional police commanders through the PNP Command Center at its headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

“The local campaign period started on a generally peaceful and orderly mode on Friday. We hope that this favorable condition will hold for the succeeding days of the campaign period until the last day of the local campaign on May 7, or two days before the 2022 National and Local Elections on May 9,” Carlos said in a statement

Candidates vying for around 18,000 local positions unleashed their creativity in wooing voters as the country began Friday the 45-day campaign period for local elections. Some conducted colorful motorcades or hired marching bands while touring around their respective areas.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier noted that more uniformed personnel would be deployed in 40 to 50 areas

Around 4,000 to 5,000 policemen have been deployed in the National Capital Region to ensure peace and order during the local campaign for Eleksyon 2022, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Martin Diño said Saturday.

Last December 2021, the PNP said 488 towns and 58 cities across the country have been initially considered as hotspots for elections. 

Meanwhile, Carlos reminded local candidates that all campaign activities are prohibited on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, April 14 and 15, 2022.

The decision was based on the order of the Commission on Elections.

“We express optimism that all security measures put in place by the PNP will produce favorable results to uphold the sovereign will of the Filipino electorate and ensure safe, orderly, honest and peaceful elections on May 9th,” Carlos stressed. —Mel Matthew Doctor/KG, GMA News