resident Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. approved the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) request for the deputation of military and police forces to ensure the proper conduct of a plebiscite on August 31 in Caloocan City.
The approval was formalized under Memorandum Order No. 31, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on August 27.
“Now, therefore, I, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., President of the Philippines, … hereby concur with the Comelec’s deputation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and other law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government in connection with the 31 August 2024 plebiscite to ratify the division of Barangay Bagong Silang in the City of Caloocan into six separate and independent barangays,” the order read.
The memorandum grants Comelec authority to deploy the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and other law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and order during the plebiscite.
The directive calls on law enforcement agencies to coordinate closely with Comelec to ensure that the voting process is free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible under the law.
The plebiscite will determine the division of Barangay Bagong Silang into six separate and independent barangays.
Under Article IX-C of the 1987 Constitution, Comelec is empowered to deputize law enforcement agencies to safeguard elections, subject to the President’s concurrence.
