ILOILO – With more than 1,200 security personnel still needed to meet election day demands, Iloilo is bracing for a potential security gap in the May 12 polls, prompting officials to turn to the military and the coast guard for reinforcement.
The longstanding practice of deploying additional police personnel from Negros Occidental will no longer be possible this year following the latter’s inclusion in the newly created Negros Island Region (NIR), which has severed traditional inter-regional security arrangements.
“Negros Occidental used to be our main source of surplus police personnel during elections. But now that they’re part of a separate region, their resources are needed elsewhere,” said Iloilo Provincial Election Supervisor Reinier Layson.
The resulting law enforcement manpower shortfall has forced the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office to recalibrate their election security strategy. Talks are underway to enlist the support of the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, and Philippine Coast Guard to help secure voting precincts, especially in areas classified as election hotspots or geographically isolated.
Iloilo police provincial director Colonel Bayani Razalan confirmed that to meet the standard of deploying two officers per precinct, the province would require more than 1,200 additional personnel — resources it currently lacks.
“We are now considering single deployment per voting center supported by Quick Reaction Teams. These mobile teams will respond immediately to any incident to maintain peace and order,” Razalan explained.
This shift marks a significant departure from previous elections, which relied heavily on the Philippine National Police (PNP) for ground-level deployment.
The urgent need for alternative support was underscored during the recent Third District Coordination Meeting in the Second District of Iloilo, where municipalities expressed concern over insufficient police coverage and the implications for election day security.
Despite these challenges, Layson remains optimistic: “We are exhausting all options. The safety and integrity of the elections remain our top priority.”
Comelec and PNP officials assured the public that inter-agency collaboration will be intensified in the coming weeks to close logistical gaps and ensure a peaceful, orderly, and credible electoral process./PN
