AFP reallocates forces to ensure poll safety

From the Daily Tribune (May 6): AFP reallocates forces to ensure poll safety

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has started deploying troops and assets, including aircraft and helicopters, to ensure the peace and orderliness of the upcoming elections on May 13.

Maj. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, AFP deputy chief of staff for operations, yesterday said they expect that the coming elections will be more peaceful compared to the last elections in 2010.

“We believe that this incoming elections (will be) a lot safer and a lot peaceful comparably to the last elections,” he stressed.

Compared to the same period in the last elections when the military activated its Task Force HOPE or honest, orderly and peaceful elections, this year, Baladad said, the AFP goes with the normal chain of command in performing its election duties as mandated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“We have troops ready to secure the elections, of course, in coordination with the PNP (Philippine National Police). Together with the PNP, we have created coordination centers, Joint Security Coordination Centers, so that we can integrate our security provisions for the elections,” he added.

“Their (PNP) strength plus our strength, so we can cover a lot more area and a lot more candidates,” Baladad stressed.

In fact, he said deployment of AFP troops already started in areas where they are needed or to places considered by the Comelec as areas of concern.

Baladad said a Marine battalion was sent to Misamis Oriental last week to augment the present troops there. The deployment came in the aftermath of the ambush of the group of Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona by the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

The ambush resulted in the killing of two civilians while Guingona, wife for former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, was hurt.

Aside from personnel, the AFP is also readying air assets, including C130 cargo planes and Sokol helicopters for possible election duties.

Meanwhile, the PNP reported that a total of 2,958 individuals have already been apprehended in the continuing implementation of the Comelec gun ban nationwide.

Of the number, 2,727 were civilians, 20 AFP troops, 39 PNP personnel, a fireman, three jail personnel, 36 government employees, 128 security guards and three Cafgus.
During actual checkpoint operations, police operatives seized a total of 2,901 firearms, explosives, and various deadly weapons. a total of 24,202 various ammunition were also confiscated.

http://tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/13779-afp-reallocates-forces-to-ensure-poll-safety