Caraga — To ensure the smooth running of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Monday, the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) has deployed 6,316 personnel throughout the area.
According to a news release by Philippines News Agency, Maj. Jennifer Omiter, chief of the Information Office, stated in a phone interview with the Philippine News Agency on Sunday that these officers are responsible for securing 1,349 voting centers across the Caraga Region. Checkpoints have been established in strategic locations in cooperation with various units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Maj. Omiter confirmed that no election-related incidents have been reported in the region since the campaign period began.
In a separate statement, PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft issued a reminder to all candidates and voters to refrain from vote-buying activities to avoid facing legal repercussions. "I appeal to the community and our media partners to unite with us. The success of our elections is not a solitary achievement but a collective endeavor that hinges on unity," said Brig. Gen. Kraft.
Additionally, the PRO-13 initiated its Media Action Center (MAC) on October 28 to facilitate the real-time dissemination of accurate information concerning the elections. Serving as a communication line among Public Information Officers, stakeholders, and media partners, MACs have been established not just at the PRO-13 regional office but also in various municipal, city, and provincial police offices in the Caraga Region.