MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has formally deputized the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the conduct of “free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible” May 9, 2022 national and local elections.

Under Resolution No. 10755 promulgated on Wednesday, January 19, the COMELEC listed the following duties and functions to be performed by AFP and PNP personnel as its deputized agents:

• Provide security to polling places, polling centers/voting centers, canvassing centers, and such other places or buildings, including election paraphernalia, equipment, forms, and supplies, that will be used in connection with the elections;

• Provide security to the personnel of the Commission, its deputies, and other persons performing election-related functions;

• Deploy, at the least time possible, troops for election duty in coordination with the concerned Regional Election Director, Provincial Election Supervisor, and Election Officer;

• Make available, at the least time possible, land, air, and watercraft assets, communication systems, and other equipment, in connection with the conduct of the elections;

• Look into the existence of any armed group organized to commit, or which is committing or attempting to commit, acts of terrorism, or threats to intimidate or coerce any person to vote for or against a candidate, and to suppress or prevent said acts of terrorism or threats;

• Assist the Commission in implementing more effectively election laws and/ or rules and regulations, particularly the laws governing prohibition against military, policemen and provincial guards acting as bodyguards or security guards for the candidates, the use of armored vehicles and air or watercraft, and the prohibition on bearing, carrying or transporting firearms and other deadly weapons in public places;

• Provide security escorts to candidates, subject to the conditions and restrictions on the Resolution imposing the ban on the carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons and the ban on the use of security personnel or bodyguards; provided that, the AFP can provide security escorts only in the absence of personnel of the PNP and other law enforcement agencies;

• Conduct a periodic assessment of the peace and order conditions in critical areas and recommend measures which may be adopted by the Commission in the interest of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections;

• Comply with and/ or implement directives or resolutions of the Commission, which shall take precedence over and above the orders and directives issued by any other office or agency of the Government, except the Supreme Court and those issued in habeas corpus cases;

• Render periodic reports on action taken in accordance with this Resolution

The poll body reminded that despite being deputized, soldiers shall continue with the conduct of all Internal Security Operations or its own functions and responsibilities and that no changes in the assignments of police personnel can be effected except upon prior written permission of the commission.

The resolution shall take effect after its publication in two daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines, the COMELEC said.

MANILA, Philippines – Hindi magpapatupad ng aresto ang Philippine National Police (PNP) sa mga pasaherong hindi pa bakunado laban sa COVID-19 sa gitna ng ipinaiiral na “no vaccination, no ride” policy sa mga pampublikong sasakyan sa Metro Manila.

Ayon kay PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Roderick Augustus Alba, papayuhan at pauuwiin lang sa kani-kanilang mga bahay ang mga pasagerong hindi papayagang sumakay sa mga pampublikong sasakyan.

“No arrest will be effected except for specific violations of law that authorized lawful arrest of offenders,” ang wika ni Alba.

Ang PNP ay isa sa law enforcement agencies na katuwang ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) sa pagpapatupad ng nasabing polisiya.

“Naging matagumpay po ang unang araw ng ‘no vax. no ride’ policy ng PNP, DOTR at LTFRB sa kalakhang Maynila, hindi natin pinahihintulutang sumakay sa mga pampublikong sasakyan ang mga walang maiprisintang katibayan na sila bakunado,” ani Alba.

Sa ilalim ng polisiya, hindi papayagang sumakay ang mga hindi bakunado laban sa COVID-19 at walang maipakitang katunayan o dokumento.

Hindi naman nito saklaw ang mga may medikal na kondisyon kaya hindi nabakunahan at ang mga lumalabas ng bahay para sa essential goods and services.

“Ang mga hindi nabakunahang pasahero na nameet naman ang criteria for exemption to the policy ay pinapayagang sumakay at bumiyahe,” ani Alba.

Hindi rin sakop ng polisiya ang mga manggagawang itinuturing na essential workers o nagbibigay ng mahahalagang serbisyo sa publiko.

Una nang ipinaalala ng DOTr na dapat may maipakitang kaukulang dokumento gaya ng medical certificate o iba pang katunayan ang isang indibiduwal upang ma-exempt sila sa nasabing polisiya.

Kung may medical check-up o examination, magtatrabaho, bibili ng essential goods, mag-a-apply ng lisensya, passport at iba pa, kailangan lang din na magpakita ng mga pruweba ng pagpunta sa mga kaukulang lugar gaya ng identification card sa mga empleyado, medical o exam appointment, barangay health pass at iba pa.

Kung fully vaccinated na, dapat ay dala ang vaccination card.

Samantala, plano naman ng PNP na magpakalat ng mga tauhang magsisilbing “mystery passenger” sa mga pampublikong sasakyan na magbabantay sa mga tsuper at konduktor na lalabag sa ipinatutupad na health protocols.

Kukunin ng mga ito ang plate number ng sasakyan at ang ruta nito at para sa karampatang aksyon.

Nagbabala naman ang PNP sa mga gumagamit ng pekeng vaccination cards na maaari silang makulong ng hanggang anim na buwan at magmulta ng hanggang P50,000. (mula sa ulat ni Correspondent Lea Ylagan)

MANILA, Philippines — Around P1.1 million worth of illegal drugs were confiscated in a series of operations in Taguig City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday.

In a statement, the PNP said police operatives conducted four successive operations, led by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday, January 11.

Initial report revealed that a tricycle driver identified as Halil Abo, 26, was arrested after two heat-sealed plastic sachets of shabu worth P173,400.00 were found in his possession.

An hour after, elements of the NCR Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a separate buy-bust operation leading to the confiscation of P515,440 worth of illegal drug and the arrests of drug suspects, Wynlove Buco, 38, and Eusebio Bahia Jr.,43.

Taguig City police also arrested 44-year old Raffy Lumenda, who was found with illegal drugs with a street value of P345,440.00.

Two individuals, identified as Alvin Co, 36, and Jessie Christopher Cruz, 38, were also nabbed for illegal drugs along MLQ St., Purok 5, Brgy. Lower Bicutan, Taguig City in another anti-illegal drugs operation conducted on the same day. Confiscated items were packs of suspected shabu worth P76,160.00.

PNP chief Police General Dionardo Carlos lauded police officers involved in the operation.

“Successive operations in a day—this is a feat. I thank the dedication of the police units involved. This huge amount of illegal drugs must be reflective of the network of narcotic operations that may be behind these cases,” he said.

“The next step is to identify the big fish,” he added.