MISAMIS ORIENTAL (PIA)--The Commission of Elections (COMELEC)-10 held its Provincial Command Conference for the May 2022 Local and National Elections to reactivate the municipal, city, and provincial joint security control centers for the conduct of safe and peaceful elections, January 6

Attended by local government unit (LGU) representatives, municipal police station chiefs, LGU election officers, and provincial government line-agencies, the conference realigned issues and concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic such as the implementation of the gun ban, adherence to health safety protocols during the campaign and election season, and public security, among others.

“We can properly implement the gun ban and all other activities that are needed to be implemented to the public by having close coordination with all stakeholders, so they will know that we are one and have the same purpose, which is for them to fully exercise their right to suffrage without hampering our public health protocols and all other activities,” said COMELEC-10 Regional Election Lawyer Gina Luna Zayas-Sabio.

Expressing support to the initiative, 58th Infantry “Dimalulupig” Battalion Commander Ricky Canatoy, said the military can provide manpower support, transportation, and security in the conduct of peaceful elections in the hinterland villages under their areas of responsibility.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) echoed the same sentiments disclosing that they have already allocated a sufficient number of their personnel to man all polling precincts, clustered precincts, and the implementation of checkpoints on all municipalities of the province.

“The Misamis Oriental-Police Provincial Office is committed to ensuring peaceful, safe, and orderly elections for 2022, we are ready to implement the mandate of the COMELEC for these upcoming elections,” PNP-Misamis Oriental Provincial Director Raniel Manlapig Valones disclosed. (VPSB/PIA-10/Misamis Oriental)