PNP to intensify checkpoint operations as Eleksyon 2025 campaign period starts

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has asked the public for understanding as it would be stricter at checkpoints when the campaign period for national candidates starts on Tuesday, February 11. 

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on "24 Oras," top officials of the PNP and field commanders met to iron out the implementation of checkpoints. 

“We don’t want to delay longer than necessary 'yung mga supporters at mga kandidato na dadaan sa ating mga checkpoints but  we also would like to appeal to them na respetuhin 'yung mga umiiral na checkpoints,” said PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo.

(We don’t want to delay longer than necessary the supporters and candidates who will pass the checkpoints but we also would like to ask them to respect our existing checkpoints.) 

The PNP said it would closely monitor the 403 areas of concern to avoid any incidents of election-related violence. Of the 403 tagged areas, 141 are in Luzon, 67 in the Visayas, and 195 in Mindanao. 

“Of course, doon sa mga areas na napasailalim sa yellow, orange and red definitely we will increase our deployment, particularly doon sa mga tinatawag natin na mga high-risk areas,” Fajardo said. 

(Of course, we will increase our deployment in areas placed under yellow, orange, and red categories, particularly in those we consider as high-risk areas.) 

The campaign against private armed groups (PAG) and loose firearms continued ahead of the May 12 elections. 

In Nueva Ecija, a PAG leader in Central Luzon and his men surrendered to the authorities. They did not undergo police custody because there was no warrant of arrest issued to them. 

Authorities will still investigate them and have their guns undergo forensic examinations to determine if they were used in any crimes. 

“Hopefully, bago dumating itong March 31, yung other two active private armed groups in Region 7 and Region 9, plus yung five potential private armed groups will have a significant development,” said Fajardo. 

(Hopefully, before March 31, there will be a significant development with regards to the other two private armed groups in Region 7 and Region 9, plus the five potential private armed groups.)  –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News

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