Members of the Philippine National Police conduct a Comelec checkpoint in Sta. Ana, Manila on October 27, 2023, days before the BSKE 2023 elections. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday urged the public to cooperate with authorities at the election checkpoints, saying they are free to report complaints when abuse of authority arises. 

In a news forum, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said they would implement the "plain view doctrine" during inspections. 

"Susundin natin at irerespeto ang karapatan ng mamamayan. Limited tayo sa 'plain-view doctrine.' Walang pagbubukas, walang pabababain. Maliban na lang kung mayroon kang  information, intelligence na nagsasabing kinakailangan tingnan mabuti ang sasakyan," said Garcia. 

"Yung lahat ng nasa checkpoints, mga tauhan ng law enforcement agencies dapat naka-uniporme nang malaman ang pangalan ng mismong andyan," he added. 

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The Comelec chief reminded the public that the name of the station's commander and their contact number should also be present in the Comelec checkpoint signage so they could complain easily. 

"Sa ating mga kababayan, kapag nakakita kayo ng checkpoint hindi dapat katakutan bagkus dapat niyong pasalamatan. Ang checkpoint ay nagsisiguardo na sa paparating na halalan, dapat maayos. Mag-participate na lang tayo, may kaunting istorbo sa atin pero para sa ating kapakanan naman yun," he said. 

"Sa mga awtoridad naman, sana huwag natin takutin ang mga kababayan natin," he said. 

Election period and the implementation of the gun ban is from Jan. 12 to June 11, 2025.

As in previous elections, checkpoints would be established in parts of the country as the gun ban takes effect.

READ: Comelec chief issues reminders on eve of election gun ban

AREAS OF GRAVE CONCERN

On Thursday, the Comelec identified 38 areas of "grave concern" or those under its "red category."

However, Garcia said the areas of concern are not meant to scare the public for the May 12 elections. 

"Yung categorization addressed sa Comelec, PNP at Armed Forces upang mag-preposition kami ng pwersa. Para kung saka-sakali… mayroong kaagad kaming nakalagay doon. Napakadami nang pagkakataon, na ang isang lugar ay categorized as red tapos nagiging green. Kapag ganyan, tinitingnan ang background – kasaysayan ng lugar," Garcia said. 

"May posibilidad naman na yung green biglang naging red, dahil may pangyayari na election-related incident. Minamatyagan namin, sabi ng AFP, PNP sa atin, ire-report nila sa atin kung mayroong mga foreign agents sa ating mga kandidato," he said. 

The Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines said they would deploy additional personnel to areas of grave concern, especially in the Bangsamoro region.