The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) has started to deploy 2,408 personnel assigned in polling centers for the May 12 midterm elections.

Deployment of the policemen, which account for the bulk of the PPO’s 3,509 personnel, started Monday following the dispatch of automated counting machines (ACMs) to the polling centers by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Pangasinan PPO director Col. Rollyfer Capoquian said in an interview Tuesday during the ceremonial send-off of personnel at the Gov. Antonio Sison Camp here.

“The police personnel served as escorts of the Comelec deputized vehicles, which transported the ACMs to the schools,” he said.

Capoquian said they were able to accomplish the two police personnel to one polling center ratio.

He told personnel during the ceremony to stand their ground to ensure the safety and security of voters.

“It is a big sacrifice for our policemen since they will have straight duty, no replacement, and their privileges such as off duty are forfeited for the meantime. I told them it is a big sacrifice for us but we need to ensure the sanctity of votes,” he said.

Capoquian said they also have other allied units and other national support units, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, monitoring the polling centers, even those in island villages.

He said the provincial command also added checkpoints and Quick Reaction Teams at the eight areas of concern.

These localities are Aguilar, Binmaley, Malasiqui, Mangaldan, San Quintin, Sual, Urdaneta, and Dagupan City, which are under yellow category due to intense political rivalries and past election-related incidents.

Pangasinan has 2.1 million registered voters expected to cast their ballots across 2,869 clustered precincts on Monday next week. (PNA)