Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel assemble in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on January 6, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Around 9,000 police officers and personnel can be tapped to serve on special electoral boards for the May 12 elections, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco said this is a standard practice in compliance with the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA) to ensure peace and security in "very critical areas" where election-related killings were reported.

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The poll body has prepositioned 7,000 cops across the country, but Laudiangco said they augmented with 2,000 more.

"Eh kaysa humanap kami ng public officials hanggang sa makarating kami sa private individuals, we could go directly to the officers and personnel of the [Philippine National Police]. At ‘yun ay naging standard na ng Comelec since nai-enact ang [Election Service Reform Act],” Laudiangco said.

(Instead of looking for public officials or private individuals, we could go directly to the officers and personnel of the PNP. And that has been the standard of the Comelec since the ERSA was enacted)

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He said the number of police personnel tapped for special electoral boards was around 800, much fewer than the current number.

The official also assured that the police officers who will serve on special electoral boards underwent training just like public school teachers did to serve as poll workers.

“In fact, kahapon po kasabay namin ‘yung iba from Villamor Airbase ‘yung 700 plus na mag-o-augment sa BARMM. Nandun na po sila ngayon sa Cotabato, anytime na may umatras po na electoral boards, papasok po ang ating PNP sa utos ng Comelec and they are DOST-certified,” Laudiangco stated.

(In fact, just yesterday, we were with more than 700 who will augment the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao... If a member of an electoral board backs out, the police personnel can fill their place)

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Currently, special electoral boards will serve in two areas that were previously placed under Comelec control namely Buluan in Maguindanao del Sur and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte.

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