MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed 160,000 cops to secure the 2019 elections, its spokesman Colonel Bernard Banac announced on Thursday, May 2.

“We have increased personnel deployed to 160,000 personnel…effective today,” Banac said, speaking at a press briefing at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Banac said this is to prevent election-related crimes, which they have observed in previous polls to spike in the days leading up to the big day. The 2019 elections have been scheduled for Monday, May 13.

The full deployment would mean boosted operations, with a focus on checkpoints and the service of search and arrest warrants for illegal possession of firearms.

From the beginning of the election period on January 13 up to April 25, the PNP has arrested a total of 4,729 people for election-related offenses. Most of them – 2,634 according to police – were arrested in patrol operations.

Banac reminded cops that the PNP should remain “non-partisan” during the election period. To recall, over 1,300 cops have been reshuffled for having blood relations and affinities with candidates in the upcoming elections. – Rappler.com