Security forces have started to shift their focus on the smooth transition of the government to the next set of leaders following the peaceful elections held last Monday.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said that they are now coordinating with the military for the implementation of the security measures with the impending proclamation of winners by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the next few days.

“The task at hand is not yet over, from here we have to perform the duty of ensuring the smooth and orderly transition of government power to a new administration whom the people have chosen to lead this great nation,” said Verzosa.

Deputy Director General Edgardo Acuna, deputy chief for Operations of the PNP and concurrent commander of the PNP Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections), said they are continuously securing both the winning and losing candidates from both the national and the local levels.

“We are ready to secure those who would win the elections, some celebrations will certainly be held for the winners and we are also ready for that,” said Acuna.

So far, Acuna said they see no more serious threat in the country with the end of the casting of votes.

“If we will based what happened during the elections (on Monday), there’s no much problem even from the losing candidates. The elections were peaceful and we don’t expect more problems in the coming days,” said Acuna.

The official said that the security preparations they implemented and will be implementing until the election period ends on June 9 will also serve as the basis for laying out security plans when the new set of leaders take their oath on June 30.

But Verzosa said both police and military forces will remain in every town and city until all the counting machines and other election materials are retrieved and transported back to their respective storage areas.

Verzosa said checkpoints and implementation of gun ban will remain until the election period ends on June 9.