PNP on Full Alert Nationwide

A week before the May 13 elections, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has declared a full alert status all over the country.

PNP Chief Superintendent Miguel Antonio, Deputy National Task Force Commander of Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE) 2013, said the declaration took effect last Monday and will remain so unless lifted by PNP Chief Allan Purisima.

The directive means that all PNP members are not allowed to take a leave of absence.

Last month, as part of its preparation for elections, the Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7)conducted a series of Election Security Workshops to its members and that of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for action plans on “unforeseen” events.

P/Supt. Clifford Gairanod, PRO7 information officer, said the workshop’s goal was to gather information from the region’s police stations on the issues and concerns they experienced in the previous elections, the action undertaken, and what they have learned from these.