As the midterm election draws near, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been continuously implementing significant initiatives to ensure that the upcoming 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE) will be peaceful and orderly. The police force is working closely with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and other government agencies to ensure public safety and uncompromised right to suffrage during the Election Day.
PNP’s efforts have geared up when PNP Chief, Police General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil placed the entire organization under full alert status, effective from exactly 12:01 AM of May 3, nine days before the scheduled elections on May 12, 2025, until 11:59 PM on May 15, 2025.
With the full alert status, all Reactionary Standby Support forces (RSSF), Quick Reaction Forces (QRF), and regional units were directed to remain on standby and respond immediately to any untoward incident that may arise. Police presence will also be intensified, particularly in voting centers and critical areas in various regions.
In a command conference held on May 6, 2025 at Camp BGen Rafael T Crame, PGen Marbil presented the final operational timeline for election security. He instructed all regional directors to conduct inspections in their respective areas, intensifying the Kontra-Bigay – a campaign aimed at combating vote-buying and selling, and reinforce election-related regulations.
Full deployment of personnel in polling precincts and adjacent vital facilities is scheduled on May 8. Strict enforcement of campaign ban and liquor ban will begin on May 11. On May 12, heightened security measures will be strictly implemented.
“I want them to go down, no violence. Use all the means na mahinto po natin lahat ng violence… [and] make sure na talagang it will be an honest, orderly, and peaceful election,” PGen Marbil said.
Meanwhile, the Media Action Center (MAC), located at the PNP Media Center in Camp BGen Rafael T Crame, was formally activated as the National Election Monitoring Action Center (NEMAC) starting on May 7 until May 18 to serve as the central hub for coordinating information with the national and local media. NEMAC is designed to provide timely, accurate, and newsworthy updates through official press releases, statements, and briefings with the Chief PNP, PNP Spokesperson, and other senior officers. Press conferences will also be conducted to address election-related developments before, during, and after the elections.
PBGen Warren Gaspar A. Tolito, Director of the Communications and Electronics Service (CES), also showcased the upgraded E-911 Emergency Response System, which enables rapid response to election-related emergencies within five minutes from the time an emergency call is received.
To ensure smooth communication flow, all Regional Public Information Offices (PIOs) were directed by PGen Marbil to activate their respective MACs to ensure readiness of personnel, communication systems, and monitoring operations within their areas of responsibility. All incidents involving media personnel as recorded by the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) must also be reported, with daily updates submitted to the National MAC.
In response to alleged instances of partisanship among some uniformed personnel, PNP adheres to its firm mandate in holding its personnel accountable of their actions. Personnel found engaging in political activities will face administrative and disciplinary measures.
“Let me be clear: PNP will not tolerate any form of political partisanship within its ranks. The uniform we wear represents public service—not any political campaign or candidacy,” PGen. Marbil said.
With over 163,000 PNP personnel deployed, along with around 38,000 additional personnel from various government agencies including the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Top Cop assured the public of PNP’s commitment to uphold the rule of law. He emphasized that there is no place for violence or intimidation during the election process under their watch.
