— President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Sheriff Abas after administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June 30). (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The national government is taking all the necessary measures to ensure next year’s national and local elections will be orderly, peaceful and credible, Malacañang assured the public on Sunday.
“Lahat po ay isinasagawa para matiyak ang seguridad, kaayusan at katahimikan sa pagdaraos ng eleksyon sa darating na taon, kasama na rin po ‘yung seguridad ng bansa all throughout the campaign period,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
Secretary Coloma said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are closely coordinating with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for a peaceful and orderly election.
“Batid po natin na ang Armed Forces of the Philippines at Philippine National Police ay deputized ng Commission on Elections bilang mga pangunahing pwersa sa pagtitiyak ng seguridad, katahimikan at kaayusan sa pagdaraos ng pambansang halalan sa Mayo 2016,” he said over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
Secretary Coloma said the AFP and the PNP met with Comelec officials last week to discuss security preparations for the 2016 elections, one of which is the strict implementation of a gun ban.
“Sa kanila pong pagpupulong noong nakaraang linggo ay tinalakay po nila ang mga kinakailangang hakbang. Isa pong aspeto dito ay tungkol sa pagpapatupad ng gun ban,” the secretary said.
“Napatunayan na po na ang pagkontrol sa baril at ang pagsabat sa paggamit ng ilegal na mga sandata ay isa sa mahahalagang susi sa pagkakaroon ng maayos na halalan. Kaya ito po ay isang prayoridad na programa na isasagawa ng AFP at PNP bilang deputized agents ng Comelec,” he added.
Coloma said law enforcement agencies would also establish checkpoints in strategic places to strictly enforce the gun ban during the election period. He said authorities are also focusing their campaign against private armed groups.
“Ang pagkontrol po, ang pagpigil sa paggamit at sa operasyon ng mga private armed groups ay isa rin sa mga dahilan kung bakit noon pong 2013 elections ay napanatiling generally peaceful po sa buong bansa, at sisikapin muli ito ng pinagsamang pwersa ng Comelec, AFP at PNP,” the secretary said.
Next year’s national and local elections will be held on May 9.(MNS)