(PNA file photo)

MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers may be called in to serve as Special Electoral Board (SEB) members during the May 12 elections if no other security forces are available, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Sunday.

In Resolution No. 11135, the Comelec en banc authorized AFP members to act as SEB members as a last resort and with prior approval from the AFP Chief of Staff.

Priority for SEB deployment, however, will still be given to trained officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Comelec Chair George Garcia said they initially requested 4,000 officers from the PNP, but the police force has since trained over 9,000 for possible election duties.

“The PNP was able to train and prepare 9,000 members, which is more than double our requested number,” he said in an interview.

Under Comelec guidelines, PNP or AFP personnel may be deployed on election day if the peace and order situation in the area requires their deployment as determined by the Commission or where peace and order conditions warrant such action.

These include areas tagged as “red” election areas of concern or those under Comelec control.

Personnel who serve will receive honoraria of PHP12,000 for SEB chairpersons and PHP11,000 for members, along with minimum five days of service or leave credits.