MANILA, Philippines- Sasanayin ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang hindi bababa sa 7,000 police officers na magsisilbing backup poll workers para sa 2025 national and local elections (NLE), na hahalili sa mga gurong aatras bilang election registration board (ERB) members.
“We will be training more or less 7,000 from the Philippine National Police (PNP) to serve as the back-up ERBs just in case the regular members of the electoral board will not be able to serve in the elections,” pahayag ni Comelec Chairperson George Garcia nitong Biyernes.
Ani Garcia, hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nagtalaga ng police officers bilang election board members. Noong 2022 elections, pinangasiwaan ng PNP personnel ang voting process sa 175 clustered precincts sa Cotabato City dahil sa security concerns.
“Ginawa na yan dati sa Cotabato City. Lahat ng electoral members hindi nag-serve noong 2022. Buti mayroon kaming DOST-certified na PNP personnel na para mag-serve as members of the electoral board,” anang opisyal.
Nagbabala rin siya laban sa anumang pagtatangka na takutin ang election board members, sa pagsasabing, “‘Yung mag-aattempt… na tatakutin ang electoral board members o gagawa ng paraan para hindi makapag-report, pasensyahan tayo. May PNP kami na ire-reserve para makapag-serve kaagad.”
Base sa Comelec, magaganap ang training sessions para sa kapwa police personnel at ERB members mula March 3 hanggang March 31, 2025. RNT/SA
