14/05/2019
Message of
POLICE GENERAL OSCAR D ALBAYALDE
Chief, Philippine National Police
PNP-NHQ, Camp Crame, Quezon City
May 14, 2019
POST-ELECTION MESSAGE FOR 2019 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS
Once again, the Filipino people have spoken through their right to vote during the Midterm National and Local Elections on May 13. This was a national endeavour that we prepared hard for to ensure that our countrymen may go to the polls in peace and render their share in the realization of a better and brighter future for our nation.
We, in the Philippine National Police, salute and extend our deep gratitude to our partners in this exercise – the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Commission on Elections – for the trust, the strong support and cooperation in ensuring the peaceful and safe conduct of the elections, in securing the ballot, and in keeping the peace in the communities on Election Day and during the entire election period.
Also, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for his unflinching support in providing the logistical needs, through our Capability Enhancement Program and stepping up the morale of the 190,000-force of the PNP that immensely improved our capability to ensure a fair, safe, and secured conduct of the 2019 National and Local Elections.
We thank as well the local government units, the members of the community, the members of the media and all other stakeholders for their vigilance, support and cooperation they extended to us from the time we started the security preparations many months ago, to Election Day until the remaining days ahead as we conclude our security operations.
Above all, I thank, congratulate and commend the men and women of the PNP for your display of courage in the face of all odds, the sacrifices you have made during the entire election period, and for your hard work in ensuring the peaceful and safe conduct of the elections.
There may have been incidents of violence, vote buying and harassment but these have all been resolutely and efficiently addressed by our police units together with the AFP and the COMELEC.
As of 8:00 AM today, May 14, following are the data recorded:
On election-related incidents, there is a notable 60 percent decrease in the number of cases at 43 incidents with 73 victims, compared to the 106 incidents with 192 victims in the last 2016 National and Local Elections.
On vote buying, a total of 225 incidents were recorded leading to the arrest of 441 violators and eight (8) rescued minors.
During the election day, the PNP has also recorded 41 incidents ranging from commotion, mauling, attempted murder, and shooting incidents. However, investigation is still going on to verify which of these are actually Election Related Incidents or not.
On a lighter note, we commend the 517 PNP personnel who served as members of the Election Board in the absence of teachers in regions PRO BARMM, PRO Cordillera, Region 9, and Region 10.
Together with the AFP and the COMELEC, we have done our best. And we hope that the success of this electoral exercise will further motivate and inspire us to work more closely together as we now welcome the duly elected leaders and usher in a brighter future for our nation.
I lead the Philippine National Police in enjoining the rest of our countrymen to cast aside their political differences and once again unite in working together with greater optimism as we all face new challenges ahead in our nation’s continuing journey towards lasting peace and progress.
We join the Filipino people in celebrating this meaningful milestone in the history of our beloved nation. And we thank and glorify the Lord for being at the center of all our efforts.
To the men and women of the PNP, thank you and carry on! At sa buong sambayanang Pilipino, maraming salamat po. Mabuhay and may God bless our beloved country.
