ILOILO City – In a sweeping move to protect the integrity of the upcoming May 12 midterm elections, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) is mobilizing 8,400 uniformed personnel across Western Visayas to guard more than 2,800 polling centers and neutralize potential threats before they emerge.
Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky, PRO-6 regional director, said the large-scale deployment is part of a comprehensive security strategy that emphasizes preventive action, intelligence coordination, and visible police presence in both urban hubs and election hotspots.
“We are prioritizing early intervention. Strong visibility, timely intelligence, and seamless coordination with COMELEC are our key tools to prevent any form of election-related violence, vote-buying, or criminal activity,” Wanky stated.
Beyond stationing officers at polling precincts, PRO-6 is activating mobile patrol units and rapid response teams in strategic and high-risk areas.
Checkpoints have been established throughout major thoroughfares to enforce the nationwide gun ban and intercept firearms or other contraband potentially used for political intimidation.
Wanky added that anti-criminality operations have been intensified, with ongoing crackdowns on loose firearms and continued surveillance of suspected private armed groups operating in the region.
The police are also on high alert for reports of vote-buying schemes, with intelligence units tasked to track early indicators of electoral fraud or disruption.
In a stern reminder to his force, Wanky ordered all personnel to maintain strict neutrality: “The police must never be used as a political tool. We are duty-bound to safeguard democracy, not tilt the scales.”
Authorities are appealing to the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious or unlawful activities during the election period, assuring that swift action will be taken to preserve peace and order./PN
