MARAWI CITY (PIA)—Police authorities in the province of Lanao del Sur started to make security preparations to prevent election violence that would compromise the integrity of the 2022 national and local elections.

Police Colonel Christopher Wilan Panapan, OIC Provincial Director of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office (LDSPPO), said they are now identifying potential election hotspots or ‘areas of concern’ and monitoring areas with intense political rivalry

During the 3rd quarter meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council Thursday, October 28, Panapan reported that the municipalities of Malabang, Ganassi, Pualas, Bayang, and Lumbaca Unayan are initially assessed to have intense political rivalries.

The LDSPPO chief said they have conducted a simulation exercise on condition situation response system or CSRS to test their operational readiness and capabilities in the event a crisis would occur during the elections.

The city and municipal police stations were also directed to submit their deployment plan for the upcoming polls.

A total of 12 election violent incidents transpired during the 2016 polls while 11 incidents were recorded during the 2019 elections.

Currently, the entire province remains generally peaceful. Panapan attributed this to the collaborative efforts of the police and army authorities as well as other law enforcement agencies, local government units, and other stakeholders. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)