The Philippine police and military said on Sunday they were on high alert as last-minute preparations continued for the country’s general election, even as the overall situation remained “relatively peaceful“.
Filipinos vote on Monday to choose President Rodrigo Duterte’s successor, a Vice-President, 12 Senators, hundreds of Congressmen and thousands of Governors, Mayors and provincial and city councillors.
The presidential race is a rematch between Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the country’s late dictator, and Leni Robredo, the human rights lawyer who narrowly beat him in the 2016 vice-presidential contest.
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Three months of divisive campaigning ended on Saturday, with Mr. Marcos and Ms. Robredo making final bids to sway undecided voters with patriotic, upbeat messages.
Mr. Duterte did not endorse a presidential candidate, but his party backs frontrunners Mr. Marcos and his running mate, Mr. Duterte’s daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“We are ready for any contingencies,” Armed Forces chief Lieutenant General Andres Centino told a media briefing.
“We are committed... to ensure that we have a secure, accurate, free and fair elections tomorrow.”
Political violence, cheating allegations and vote-buying marred previous elections in the Philippines. But the police said they have recorded far fewer poll-related offences than in the 2016 general election and 2019 mid-term polls.
“Hopefully we can maintain this tranquillity up to the last day of our electoral process,” Danao said.
Philippine National Police spokesperson Jean Fajardo told another briefing the pre-election situation was “relatively peaceful”, with 16 election-related offences, including shootings in Nueva Ecija and Ilocos Sur provinces.
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