ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--The security forces here are now fully prepared to serve for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in 2023.

This, after the simultaneous multi-agency send-off and turnover ceremony of security forces and resources, was held at Camp Tomas Cabili of the Iligan City Police Office (ICPO).

A total of 482 personnel from the ICPO, along with 55 personnel from the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, will be deployed for the elections. Personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will also be deployed. Military vehicles, patrol cars, and ambulances are also ready for the election.

According to the ICPO, the barangays in Iligan are classified under the green category, indicating they are safe with no intense political rivalry or criminal gangs. ICPO Director of Police Colonel Reinante Delos Santos emphasized the importance of exercising the right to suffrage with the upcoming election just three days away.

"Tulo ka adlaw nalang mag-election na ‘ta. Giencourage nato ang tanan nga muboto jud. Atong i-exercise atong right to suffrage. Dapat i-exercise nato ang atong rights para makapili ug saktong lideres. Rest assured, ang Philippine National Police, naa ra mi sa tunga, dili mi maghilabot sa political process. Ang amo lang is i-secure ang atong teachers, Comelec officials, voters, ug pati ang candidates [There are just three days left until the election. We encourage everyone to vote. Let's exercise our right to suffrage. We should exercise our rights to choose good leaders. Rest assured, the Philippine National Police is just here in the middle; we won't interfere in the political process. Our only aim is to secure our teachers, Comelec officials, voters, and even the candidates],” he said.

Meanwhile, according to the Commission on Elections, Iligan, the voting centers are also prepared for the election.

“Fortunately, sa tulo kaadlaw nalang nabilin ayha ang election, we are fully prepared. Before nagstart ang pre-election activities, before the election period, nakumpleto na ang pag inspect sa polling center [Fortunately, with just three days left before the election, we are fully prepared. Before the pre-election activities began, before the election period, the inspection of the polling centers had already been completed],”  said Comelec City Election Officer Lawyer Anna Liza Barredo. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)