The Philippine National Police on Monday stressed that it is not seeing any postponement of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections scheduled on 30 October amid the reported 2,594 areas of concern.
PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said that the PNP has recorded 246 “areas of grave concern” or under the red category while 1,248 villages are under the orange category and 1,100 are under the yellow category.
“So far, we are not seeing any areas that may postpone the polls. All areas will be simultaneously doing or conducting the BSKE as scheduled. There are some areas that we think that needs additional troops like the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” Acorda said.
“We have to send additional forces there and our deputy chief for operations are also preparing in coordination with the other agencies. If some areas will be challenging, we will render the appropriate measures,” he added.
Areas listed under the red category would be under the Commission on Elections’ control and the poll body has the authority to augment security forces in the said areas.
“With regards to the preparations for the barangay elections to our assessment and after the presentation of all the regional directors and after their meeting with the different Regional Joint Security Control Center, provincial JSCCs and of course on the national level, it’s a go for all of us,” said Acorda.
The PNP chief revealed that the 246 “areas of grave concern” for the BSKE are mostly from Bicol, Eastern visayas and BARMM.
“In BARMM alone we have 151, in Region 8 we have 60 and in Region 5 we have 21 this list is fluid, it may change anytime depending on the political climate in the area and these are being constantly monitored through our coordination with the Comelec, Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Acorda.
He also said that the PNP keeping a close watch on 38 potential PAGs and four active PAGs ahead of the BSKE this year.
The election period for the BSKE started on 28 August and will end on 29 November 2023.
During this period, the Comelec mandates the suspension of activities involving the carrying of firearms or other deadly weapons and the employment of security personnel or bodyguards by incumbent public officials, whether elected or appointed, as well as private individuals.