The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will issue a resolution to place the Philippine National Police (PNP) under its supervision and control to bolster security measures for the coming May 2025 polls, which include plans to dismantle private armies.
Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the PNP will be deputized, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Garcia said that private armies should be dismantled as the election nears since candidates might use them to advance their own interests. He issued the statement following reports that some political candidates were using private armies to coerce voters to vote for them.
“We really want to dismantle all private armies. Private armies cannot exist at the time of the elections or even at the time of the campaign period,” he stressed.
The Comelec has long called for intensified campaigns against private armed groups or private armies that are supposedly on the payroll of some candidates.
In a previous resolution, the poll body urged authorities to look into private security agencies that are essentially acting as private armies by politicians.
“I am telling this to everyone, especially to the candidates with private armed groups, the Comelec will not hesitate to use all the forces available, use all resources available to us, just to ensure that the voters are able to vote, that nobody is disenfranchised, and the people are not threatened or terrorized,” Garcia said.
The Comelec chief said the poll body is committed to the conduct of “peaceful and honest elections” in May 2025.
Garcia also said President Marcos instructed him to work on the safety and security of candidates and the public in the upcoming polls.
“How can the voters reflect their true sentiments if they are voting out of fear or because they were forced? That shouldn’t be the case. Voting should be voluntary in the will and thoughts of our countrymen,” Garcia added.
