Over 400 law enforcement officers assigned to oversee elections in Lanao del Sur region
Freshened Perspective:
Gearing up for the mid-term polls, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has sent 400 of its members to serve as Special Electoral Board (SEB) in Lanao del Sur, identified as a high-risk election zone. Hailing from the Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao, the officers addressed the traditional customs and peace considerations of Lanao del Sur during an orientation.
The modest deployment, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Allan Abalde, was welcomed by Lanao del Sur police director, Police Colonel Robert Daculan, who emphasized their crucial role in ensuring the elections in the province are secure, honest, and peaceful.
In order to better serve the diverse communities of Lanao del Sur, the policemen underwent a cultural sensitivity session. Chaired by Police Major Salahuddin Bashier, the session equipped them with essential knowledge of the area's customs, practices, and the prevailing situation in the province. Talks centered around traditional governance structures, Islamic and customary laws, local arts, oral traditions, and festivals.
The session also addressed the unique challenges posed by the Peace and Order of Lanao del Sur, addressing areas such as conflict resolution, religious sensitivity, and security dynamics during the elections in the Muslim-majority provinces. Officers were advised to coordinate with local leaders and law enforcement to navigate these delicate matters in order to prevent unnecessary tensions and maintain community cooperation throughout the election period.
Bashier pointed out that this initiative aims to ensure that every officer deployed is not only operationally ready but also culturally aware, thus benefiting the mutual trust and community cooperation. This deployment followed a series of reinforcements for election security duty in Lanao del Sur by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
- The police officers, deployed from the Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao for the elections in Lanao del Sur, were sent to Zamboanga, a province in the Philippines.
- The Special Electoral Board (SEB) members, who were flagged for duty in Lanao del Sur, will work alongside the policemen to ensure that the elections in the Mindanao province are secure and peaceful.
- In a general news update, it was revealed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has taken a proactive measure in deploying policemen to Lanao del Sur, a region known for its unique challenges, especially amidst the backdrop of war-and-conflicts and politics.
- In preparation for their deployment, the policemen from the PNP underwent a cultural sensitivity session, which shed light on traditional governance structures, Islamic and customary laws, local arts, oral traditions, and festivals of Lanao del Sur.
- The policemen were urged to maintain close coordination with local leaders and law enforcement during their deployment in Lanao del Sur, as understanding and adhering to the prevailing situation, including religious sensitivity and security dynamics, would be crucial in maintaining community cooperation during the elections in the Muslim-majority province.
