ILOILO – With more than 1,300 voting centers to secure and a lean police force spread thin, authorities in Iloilo Province are tapping reinforcements from neighboring police units to close the manpower gap and ensure safe and orderly elections this May.
At least 700 additional police officers will be deployed across the province to augment the current strength of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), according to IPPO director Police Colonel Bayani Razalan.
These reinforcements will come from Iloilo City and the nearby provinces of Guimaras, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique, alongside specialized units such as the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Maritime Group, and Aviation Security Group (AVSEGroup).
“We are doing everything to plug the shortfall. Our target is to deploy at least two officers per voting center, and right now, with only about 2,300 active personnel, we are still around 450 short from the 2,750 ideally needed,” Razalan said.
To meet the demand, even police officers currently in training or schooling may be temporarily reassigned, provided they are cleared for field duties. Razalan assured the public that routine operations at police stations will not be compromised, with each station retaining a core team of at least 16 personnel.
The deployment boost comes as the province prepares for the arrival and distribution of automated counting machines (ACMs) starting one week before the May 12 elections — a period deemed “critical” by police due to potential risks in delivery routes and storage facilities.
“We will secure all routes and locations where ACMs are stored and tested. Our personnel will be on full alert by then,” Razalan added.
The police force will also implement heightened security in identified election “hotspots” — areas flagged for potential political tension or armed threats. Coordination efforts are underway with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Philippine Army, and other law enforcement bodies to ensure comprehensive election coverage and rapid response capability across Iloilo’s towns and barangays.
“Our goal is simple: no polling center left unmanned, and no community left unprotected,” Razalan emphasized. “The people of Iloilo deserve a peaceful and honest election.”/PN
