AFP, PA join hands to address security concerns for May 2013 polls

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 13): AFP, PA join hands to address security concerns for May 2013 polls

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga - The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Army (PA) in Central Luzon have joined forces to address security concerns for the 2013 national and local elections. A joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council (JPSCC) meeting was conducted on Thursday at the Police Regional Office multi-purpose hall here, where significant topics were discussed that include the presentation of best practices of the PNP-Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) cooperation and the filing of cases against threat groups in Central Luzon.

The meeting was spearheaded by the JPSCC (national level) chaired by Brig. Gen. Andre Tayag, AFP and Chief Supt Ricardo Marquez, PNP and some senior officers from both the military and police. Marquez said the AFP and PNP will remain strong partners in anti-criminality and internal peace and security operations. The AFP will be the lead agency in the conduct of internal security operations while the PNP will be the primary agency in all anti-criminality operations, he said.

The JPSCC shall craft and implement plans for intensified security operations against lawless elements, private armies and other threat groups in support of the local government units (LGUs), assume functions during elections, monitor and assess peace and security situations, coordinate the implementation of necessary measures to ensure peace and security in their area of responsibility; conduct intensified law-enforcement; initiate and coordinate trainings and exercises, conduct information dissemination of timely and relevant information and enhance awareness program, Marquez added.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=479729