MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is all set to provide security for the second Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite on Feb. 6 in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said 3,209 police personnel will be deployed to secure the 588 polling centers in various areas of the two provinces.
“We are ready to assume election duties anew for the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite. We will be using similar operational template applied in the first plebiscite,” Albayalde told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Albayalde said there will be a ceremonial send-off for the 3,209 police officers tasked to perform election duties on Tuesday in Cagayan de Oro City.
The police personnel are expected to be augmented by soldiers and other law enforcement agencies.
Albayalde said Cagayan de Oro City will serve as monitoring and action center for the Feb. 6 plebiscite.
Earlier Albayalde, said he will visit Lanao del Norte to personally check on security measures for the second BOL plebiscite.
“For now, we do not see any problem as the first plebiscite in other areas is done and we will be focusing our forces there and we will put in more troops to ensure a peaceful plebiscite,” Albayalde said in a radio interview.
Meanwhile, the military has deployed more than 10,000 troops and support units to help secure the BOL plebiscite, alongside the PNP.
The second BOL plebiscite will be held in the province of Lanao del Norte, except Iligan City; the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, and Pigkawayan in the province of North Cotabato; and the 28 barangays to be included in the region. (PNA)
