LAMUT, Ifugao(PIA) - - The Ifugao Police Provincial Office (IPPO) assures a safe and peaceful Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the province on Monday, October 30, 2023.

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Del Castillo said the Philippine National Police  will do everything in its power to ensure that the public may excise their right to vote for a leader while also being assured of their safety.

“We all come together for the same goal and purpose to achieve a violence-free and peaceful election on October 30. In order to ensure that the electoral process is transparent and reflects the will of the people, we have a substantial amount of responsibility for upholding security and enforcing laws in the province of Ifugao,” Castillo said.

A total of 996 fully equipped police officers  are  deployed in the different municipalities  for the BSKE 2023. Said personnel in partnership with other state forces and offices will also do other needed election related assistance.

Education  Supervisor    Arsenio Yongoyong stated also that teachers are willing to cooperate with the PNP for the successful conduct of the BSKE 2023. Yongoyong represented Schools Division Superintendent Gloria Buya-ao during the simultaneous multi-agency send-off and turn-over ceremony of security forces for the BSKE.

The security forces are composed of  police officers from the various Municipal Police Stations, IPPO, Provincial Mobile Force Company, Special Action Force  and other units including the 54th Infantry Battalion of the Fifth Infantry Division.

Atty. Joyce Marie Dango, the Election Officer of Lagawe, thanked  the police forces for continuously  supporting the various preparatory activities of the Commission on Elections for a successful BSKE in the province.

“As you are being deployed to your respective areas of assignments, may you continue to perform your duties and functions to help us secure our electoral boards, poll workers, polling centers, election paraphernalia or materials. Together, let’s help each other achieve a successful BSKE in Ifugao because COMELEC alone cannot do it,” Dango said.

She  also appreciated the DepEd-Ifugao for providing poll workers for the BSKE 2023.

Dango enjoins  everyone to be   defender of democracy, champion of choice, bodyguard of the ballots and  sentinel of justice. (JDP/MBL- PIA CAR-Ifugao)