The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is aiming for zero violence for the May 12 midterm elections.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil warned police commanders they better shape up or face sanctions if election-related violence breaks out in their areas of jurisdiction on election day.

“There will be reckoning for people who will not in any way hindi effective sa implementation na gusto natin na no violence especially ‘yung dapat nandun sila sa baba,” he told reporters in an interview Wednesday.

Marbil presided over the activation of the media action center at Camp Crame where journalists can get reports and other incidents related to the polls.

“Our goal is zero violence. We have a goal that really zero violence, we want to make sure this midterm election will become honest, orderly and peaceful,” Marbil said.

The PNP will use about 163,621 police officers for election security, about 69 percent of the 235,000-strong police force, backed by an augmentation force of 37,817 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fire Protection.

Marbil said the PNP is keeping a close watch on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Abra, which have a history of election-related violence. DMS