THE Police Regional Office-Davao (PRO-Davao) has made significant headway in its post-election cleanup following the May 12, 2025, National and Local Elections.
As of May 13, approximately 77 percent of election-related paraphernalia has been cleared across the region.
PRO-Davao spokesperson Police Major Catherine Dela Rey confirmed the progress in an interview with VoxPop Davao, noting that no formal complaints have been received regarding the election results. She attributed this to the smooth conduct of the elections and the efficiency of post-election operations.
Immediately after the polls closed, PRO-Davao deployed personnel across its Area of Responsibility (AOR) to facilitate the prompt collection and proper storage of election materials. The initiative aims to maintain cleanliness and order in the region after the elections.
Regional Director Brigadier General Leon Victor reported that, despite minor setbacks—such as technical glitches with some automated voting machines—voting went smoothly across the region. While there were isolated reports of suspected election-related violence and vote-buying, these incidents did not disrupt the overall integrity of the elections. All polling precincts remained operational, allowing voters to cast their ballots without major issues.
PRO-Davao continues to coordinate with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other agencies to maintain peace and order during the post-election period.
Although the region has remained largely peaceful, two isolated incidents were reported: a stray bullet in Davao Occidental injured a 15-year-old child, and a shooting occurred in New Corella, Davao del Norte. Both cases are currently under investigation.
Comelec also reported that approximately 80% of election results had been transmitted and were being processed as of May 13, signaling steady progress toward finalizing the outcomes.
In response to logistical challenges, Comelec granted candidates a five-day grace period to remove campaign materials. The extension, announced by Comelec Chair George Garcia on May 13, acknowledges the difficulty of immediate post-election cleanup.
“We are giving candidates up to five days after election day to remove their campaign paraphernalia,” Garcia said. “We recognize how exhausting it is to dismantle everything immediately.”
The move came after feedback from candidates and local government units expressing concern over the original, shorter deadline. Garcia described the extension as a practical response to the scale of the cleanup effort.
PRO-Davao reiterated its commitment to ensuring a peaceful and orderly post-election environment, continuing both its cleanup operations and swift response to any incidents. DEF
