Ben Madilynn
THE Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao) has confirmed its 100 percent readiness for the upcoming elections, while debunking several false claims circulating online and on the ground that could undermine public trust in the process.
One viral post quoted an alleged SPO4 telling voters to “bantayan ang mga balota kay naa’y tuldok” (watch the ballots because there are dots), suggesting that ballots were pre-marked. PRO-Davao clarified that this claim is false and urged the public to verify information before sharing.
Another rumor falsely claimed that voters must present their national ID on election day. PRO-Davao confirmed that only the official voter list and a valid identification are required for voting.
Addressing concerns about partisanship, PRO-Davao spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey emphasized that their operations remain impartial, particularly regarding recent vote-buying allegations.
She said during a press conference on Friday, May 9, 2025: “Wala to siyay halo na politika, no, kay naa bayay concerned citizen, so we have to act on that. ‘Di man gud mi nagatan-aw kung asa ka na political party (There was no political agenda behind it. A concerned citizen reported it, so we had to act. We don’t look at what political party you belong to).”
While the region remains generally peaceful, the regional security office confirmed that one violent and one non-violent election-related incident are under investigation. The violent case involves a shooting incident in February where a teacher was involved. Tagum is under investigation for one incident, but Carmen remains clear of any election-related concerns.
Dela Rey assured the public, “Nothing will affect the integrity of the elections,” adding that these isolated incidents will not impact the overall process.
In coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and the Department of Education (DepEd), PRO-Davao is committed to ensuring smooth, secure, and credible elections across the region.
The public is urged to stay vigilant against misinformation and report suspicious activities to the authorities. Jessalou Algodon Silpa, UM Intern
Source: PRO-Davao Assures 100% Readiness for May 12 Elections
