Following the successful conduct of the May 12 midterm elections, the Philippine National Police (PNP) held a Tribute and Awarding Ceremony for PNP Special Electoral Boards (SEBs) on May 23, 2025 at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center, Camp BGen Rafael T Crame, in Quezon City.
The event, led by PNP Chief, Police General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, recognized the exemplary service of personnel who completed their mission in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as members of the SEBs. He was joined by PLtGen Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., Deputy Chief PNP for Administration; PLtGen Robert Rodriguez, Deputy Chief PNP for Operations; and other PNP top officials in awarding the SEB contingents with medals, cash gifts and token.
Of the 3,698 PNP SEBs deployed, 241 personnel were physically present during the ceremony at the national headquarters—175 from Police Regional Office 2 (PRO 2), 37 from PRO 4A, and 29 from PRO 4B. The officers were deployed to areas in Bangsamoro region where the originally designated Board of Election Inspectors were unable to perform their duties due to safety and security reasons.
In his address, PGen Marbil commended the police personnel who went beyond traditional law enforcement duties by ensuring the orderly conduct of elections in geographically isolated and conflict-affected areas.
“This moment is a tribute to your discipline, professionalism, and integrity. You stood at the frontlines of democracy—not with firearms, but with ballots,” he stated. “Serving as SEBs is no ordinary assignment. It requires not only a high level of competency, but also an ironclad sense of impartiality.”
The PNP top cop further emphasized the gravity and honor of the awards given to deserving awardees, saying: “Yung award nyong Kadakilaan is a high form of award. Lahat ng mga pulis na tumulong sa atin sa election will be receiving Medalya ng Kadakilaan. I have to pin your medals, hindi lang dapat ito sinasabi, dapat ikinakabit po iyan kasi buhay ang kapalit nyan.”
He also assured the SEB contingents of the full support of PNP leadership, stating: “Yun lang naman ang pangako natin sa ating mga pulis, just do your job, andito lang kami sa likod nyo to make sure na maayos po tayo. Di namin kayo pababayaan.”
“Your service has strengthened the credibility of the electoral process. It reassured voters. It protected the sanctity of the ballot. And it sent a clear message that PNP will always be a pillar of secure, fair, and peaceful elections,” he added.
While 241 SEBs were honored in Camp Crame, regional tribute ceremonies are also being prepared by the respective PROs to recognize the contributions of the rest of the SEB personnel.
“Let this tribute be a reminder that the most powerful weapon we have is not our strength or our tactics, but our integrity and you have shown the nation what it means to wear this badge with honor,” PGen Marbil concluded.
