THE DAVAO Police Regional Office (PRO XI) reported a peaceful start to certificate of candidacy (COC) filing for the 2025 midterm elections, with no election-related violence recorded since the process began on Oct. 1.
PRO XI spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey confirmed this during the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, Oct 2.
“As of today, there have been no election-related incidents,” Dela Rey stated, emphasizing regional director Brig. Gen. Rosete’s goal of ensure peaceful and successful elections.
While no areas have been designated as areas of concern yet, Dela Rey explained that the Regional Joint Security and Control Center is continuously monitoring the situation and will convene soon to assess potential hotspots.
Previous election data, including areas with a history of election-related violence, will be considered during this assessment.
“We are monitoring the entire Davao Region, and we are working to ensure a peaceful COC filing process with deployed police personnel,” Dela Rey assured.
For now, there is no record yet if there are areas of concern about the upcoming elections.
“The Regional Joint Security and Control Center has not yet convened so we are still waiting for them to present during that time if there are possible areas that will be placed under concern,” she added.
“But we are monitoring the whole Davao region starting with the filing of coc,” she further said.
“But we are working through it during the filing of the coc since we deployed police personnel so that it will be peaceful,” she further said.
However, she revealed that the areas with concern in the past two elections will become their basis that are placed with election-related violence will be considered to be placed under areas of concern.
She added that increased police presence and focus would be implemented in any areas designated as areas of concern, especially during election day.
Factors determining areas of concern
Dela Rey clarified the criteria for designating areas of concern, emphasizing that incidents must be directly linked to political rivalry through thorough investigation.
“If the motive for a crime is determined to be political, then it will be considered an election-related incident. However, if the investigation reveals that the incident is not related to the elections, it will not be factored in,” she explained.
PRO XI takes proactive measures
To ensure peaceful elections, PRO XI is taking proactive measures, including:
Reassigning Police Officers: Police officers with relatives (up to the fourth degree of affinity) running for office have been reassigned to prevent any undue influence.
Dela Rey clarified that these reassignments are temporary, and officers can return to their original positions after the elections.
She said the PRO XI is collaborating with other agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Coast Guard, and other law enforcement agencies, to maintain peace and security.
PRO XI is assessing the presence of private armed groups and any potential threats from communist terrorist groups, although the region is largely insurgency-free.
Further, the police official said that Comelec checkpoints have been established in strategic areas to enhance security and visibility.
Dela Rey also reminded candidates and their supporters to maintain order and avoid any altercations, emphasizing that security measures will be applied fairly to all.
Meanwhile, Davao Coast Guard station administrative officer Ensign Joshua Domingo said they have also deployed personnel at Magsaysay Park for security assistance for the filing of the certificate of candidacy.
“We also have constant maritime patrol in the vicinity waters of Sta. Ana to Davao River to ensure the safety and security of the public in the said area,” Domingo said.
He added there are around five Coast Guard personnel assigned in a floating asset to conduct maritime patrol.
Photo courtesy of Rhoda Grace B Saron
