By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
ALL Facebook posts on controversial conduct of security personnel and Electoral Commission officers during the 2022 National elections will thoroughly be investigated, Police Commissioner David Manning says. “We will investigate all the posts whether true or false by disgruntled members of the public if they suspect that the conduct of security personnel’s during polling and counting is suspicious,” he said. “We will set up a cybercrime unit in the Command Center in Morauta Haus in Port Moresby to check on all social media to check all information and we will quickly investigate and respond to clarify that information. “This is for the benefit of our people. There will also be an internal investigation unit set up to take on complains from the members of the public, if they feel that our (security personnel) conduct and action is causing a situation where you feel that you are not practicing your democratic rights, we will sent up a greater accountability and transparency of what we do so that you feel free, safe and fair to cast your votes.” Manning said during the opening of the command center in Port Moresby that: “Now we will be able to track our personnel’s on the ground during the elections. So we will be using this command center, not only for election planning, but also goes beyond the completion of the election process right up to the formation of the new Government. This command center will ensure that the security forces will remain neutral.” Manning also thanked the Department of the Prime Minister and National Executive Council (DPMNEC) for allocating them the Morauta Haus to coordinate the security operations of this election. “This command center has been set up to scrutinize our security personnel as we have leant a lot in conducting security operation in past elections. We are now in our pre planning stage of the elections and we have gone through a lot of lessons that we have taken in previous elections. And going on ward into the future, for joint security force we need do coordinate our job properly in a structural manner and we can manage the entire country. Our security preparation is well under way and today’s event is significant. We are on target to provide a free, safe and fair election,” Manning said. He said the center would have all the security agencies (PNG Defense Force, Police and PNG Correctional Services) and Officers from the Departments of Finance, National Planning and Monitoring, Treasury, DPMNEC s and Justice and Attorney General. So it is a command center that will have greater collaboration. As you all are aware election process is very challenging and is critical that we establish a central point and all reports are channel through and clear command is enforced and addressed. The center will be in operational till the issue of wrist and the swearing of the new Government”. Manning also urged the public to work with the security forces to provide a free, safe and fair election.
