Philippines on high alert as all systems go for election By Reuters

MANILA (Reuters) -The Philippine police and army mentioned on Sunday they have been on excessive alert as last-minute preparations continued for the nation’s normal election, whilst the general state of affairs remained “comparatively peaceable”.

Filipinos vote on Monday to decide on President Rodrigo Duterte’s successor, a vp, 12 senators, a whole bunch of congressmen and hundreds of governors, mayors and provincial and metropolis councillors.

The presidential race is a rematch between Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the nation’s late dictator, and Leni Robredo, the human rights lawyer who narrowly beat him within the 2016 vice presidential contest.

Three months of divisive campaigning ended on Saturday, with Marcos and Robredo making last bids to sway undecided voters with patriotic, upbeat messages.

Duterte didn’t endorse a presidential candidate, however his occasion backs frontrunners Marcos and his operating mate, Duterte’s daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio.

“We’re prepared for any contingencies,” Armed Forces chief Lieutenant Normal Andres Centino instructed a media briefing with police officer-in-charge Lieutenant Normal Vicente Danao and senior election fee officers.

“We’re dedicated… to make sure that we now have a safe, correct, free and truthful elections tomorrow.”

Political violence, dishonest allegations and vote-buying marred earlier elections within the Philippines. However the police mentioned they’ve recorded far fewer poll-related offences than within the 2016 normal election and 2019 mid-term polls.

“Hopefully we will keep this tranquillity as much as the final day of our electoral course of,” Danao mentioned.

Philippine Nationwide Police spokesperson Jean Fajardo instructed one other briefing the pre-election state of affairs was “comparatively peaceable”, with 16 election-related offences, together with shootings in Nueva Ecija and Ilocos Sur provinces.

Voting can be longer than regular to accommodate COVID-19 security measures.

Guia Morris, principal at Jacinto Zamora Elementary College in Manila, mentioned they’ve spent weeks cleansing and disinfecting the rooms the place voting can be carried out.

“The lecturers are all ready, and so they attended orientation and seminars concerning the election,” she mentioned.