By Meriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–Bracing for security measures at the start of the election period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) Elections this year, the Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) on Monday (August 28) launched the conduct of simultaneous checkpoints in various towns and cities of the province.
After the establishment of these checkpoints around the province, Police/Colonel Erwin Portillo, LPPO director, announced to the public of his command’s readiness to secure the BSKE scheduled on October 30, this year, with the election period from August 28 to November 29.
These checkpoints are aimed at “strictly enforcing election laws, especially on the enforcement of the gun ban and all anti-criminality laws,” the LPPO said.
The PNP personnel shall adhere to the protocols, adherence to the directives, guidelines and instructions as stated in the COMELEC Resolution No. 10741 and observe extra vigilance in the conduct of checkpoint operations, it added.
Portillo declared: “Leyte Police will continue the conduct of checkpoint until the last day of election period to ensure security and public safety.”
He said, “This may pose inconvenience to other motorists but rest assured that this is all for a secure, orderly, and peaceful elections and that all eligible voters can exercise their right to vote freely, without any intimidation or coercion especially in the province of Leyte.”
The top provincial police official further said these security measures help “maintain political stability and social harmony.” He added: “When voters have confidence in the fairness and integrity of the electoral process, they are more likely to accept the outcome, even if their preferred candidate does not win.”
Portillo, along with P/Col. Salvador Alacyang, LPPO deputy regional director for operations, inspected these checkpoints, as the LPPO Command Group and Staff supervise the conduct of these by various municipal and city police stations in the province, to ensure that checkpoint rules and protocols are “religiously followed” by all unit commanders.
Portillo also assured the public that the police and the Comelec, with the active support of other concerned government agencies, will work together to have a peaceful and orderly elections.
He called on the public to “be always vigilant to prevent lawless elements from taking advantage of the BSKE 2023” by contacting the LPPO or its units for any tips and inquiries. —Meriam G. Desacada