MORE THAN 4,000 vote-counting machines (VCM) are already delivered to the Davao Region for the national and local elections, according to a Commission on Elections official.
Lawyer Gay Enumerables, the assistant regional director and spokesperson of Comelec XI, said As per report of the logistics provider, the VCMs are already for Region XI.
“As for official ballots, (it will be delivered) end of April,” Enumerables said.
Based on the record of the office, there are around 4,384 clustered precincts in the region, the most number is in Davao city with 1,411 cluster precincts.
On the other hand, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) ensures that police personnel are deployed in warehouses where the vote-counting machines are placed.
DCPO spokesperson Maj. Teresita Gaspan said that they will also provide security on the transport of VCMs in the city.
“Some of the VCMs are in R. Castillo and security was being provided by the Sta. Ana police, and for the regional, it (the warehouse) is well-guarded by the Buhangin police,” she added.
Moreover, around 70 policemen from Police Regional Office XI were deployed to provide additional warm bodies.
The seventy, which consisted of 67 male and three female PNP personnel, will be tasked to provide temporary security based on the approved and signed letter order by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Brig. Gen./ Dionardo Carlos.
In his message, Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo extended his guidance to the security personnel. “You were chosen because of your skills and your training. I would like you to remember some fundamental policies of the government, in particular the Philippine National Police during the Election.”
“Una (first), our organization should be apolitical, clear ba sa atin lahat (is it clear to everyone)? The very classic example of the PNP being applauded is being apolitical itself. We don’t allow the candidates to appear in the camps. That was a basic example of apolitical,” he said.
Second, he said all members of the PNP should be non-partisan to enforce this basic policy of the government.
“Nakita ninyo naman (as you can see), November last year, we started relieving personnel who has relative running for the political position for this national and local election. Why are we doing this? Simple, because we would like to inform the body that the performance of our duty for us to be effective. We should be fair, incredible, and partial,” he added.
He further reminded them that their loyalty must remain to the government, and not to the person they are tasked to secure.
