Police director tells PNP unit heads to study Comelec guidelines

Thursday 21st of January 2010

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (21 January) -- Read, study and ask about the joint letter directive/ operational guidelines for the 2010 elections. In case of doubt, consult the Commission on Elections. Don't take life. Don't cut corners.

Also, make use of the media. Invite them to visit your checkpoints. They are very helpful in disseminating these guidelines to the public to ensure the conduct of a transparent, honest, orderly and peaceful elections (HOPE).

This was the advice of Police Director Jaime E. Milla of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Eastern Mindanao (DIPO-EM) to all provincial and city directors of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the region who attended the conference called by the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) at Camp Alagar, recently.

"Let us be very conversant of the contents of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police (AFP-PNP) Joint Operational Guidelines for the 2010 National and Local elections," the Police Director said.

He also told those present to take the initiative to go out to the community, coordinate with the Election Officers in their areas of jurisdiction, the civic organizations and ask the cooperation of all stakeholders to really achieve HOPE in May.

Among others, the following Comelec Resolutions regarding the upcoming national exercise were discussed: No. 8714 – on the bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms or other deadly weapons and employment or engagement of the services of security personnel or bodyguards by the candidates;

No. 8728 – on instructions to the Chiefs of Police of cities/municipalities on the conduct of preliminary examination on the violation of the ban on firearms, other deadly weapons and security personnel;

No. 8729 – on the guidelines of the establishment of checkpoints and No. 8733 – on the matter of requesting the Honorable Secretary of the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) to assign prosecutors as members of a Special Task Force created by the Comelec to conduct investigation and prosecution of election offenses.

Also present during the conference were Atty. Renato A. Magbutay, Regional Elections Director, region 10, RJSCC Chairperson and the RJSCC members: P/Chief Supt. Danilo A. Empedrad, Regional Director, PNP-10, Maj. Gen. Romeo D. Lustestica, Commander, 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army (11D, PA), Brig. Gen. Rolito G. Abad, Asst. Division Commander, 4ID, PA and their field officers. (PIA 10)