BY: ANGELICA ARQUERO
With the 2025 elections drawing near, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cordillera and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Cordillera are ramping up their preparations to ensure peaceful and orderly polls.
Abra province recorded its first election-related incident on April 17, 2025, when a barangay captain was shot in Tayum.
The incident was followed by a series of attacks that claimed the lives of some candidates and their supporters.
As of the latest count, there have been 11 election-related incidents in the province.
To address the rising tension, 630 police personnel were deployed to Abra on May 2 to help maintain security.
“In the past, we deployed personnel just two or three days before the elections,” said Police Colonel Freddie Lazona, chief of the Regional Community Affairs and Development Division of PRO-Cordillera. “But under the directive of the PNP chief, we are now sending out all deployable personnel five to seven days ahead. By Thursday, everyone should be in place.”
Lazona emphasized that the police remain apolitical. “We’re neutral. We perform our duties without bias, without favor. And we trust that the people of Cordillera still believe in the integrity of the police.”
Residents, meanwhile, echo the call for a peaceful election. “It has to be one hundred percent peaceful,” said Rosana Virmilio, a local voter. “Lives are at stake here—those we vote into office will govern us.”
Abra also topped the list of gun ban violations in the region with 25 cases.
It was followed by Kalinga with seven, Benguet with five, and Baguio City with four.
In coordination with the PNP, Comelec Cordillera has also implemented measures to address possible election day issues.
“Each polling center will have a Voter Assistance Desk,” said Atty. Julius Torres, regional director of Comelec Cordillera. “Comelec personnel, along with the accredited citizens’ arm, PPCRV, will be there to help voters easily locate their assigned precincts.”
Torres added that contingency vote-counting machines will also be available. “Each town and city has backup machines—not many, just enough to replace defective units if necessary.”
Both agencies are urging voters to remain alert, report any irregularities, and follow election laws to ensure smooth and safe voting.
