The Armed Forces of the Philippines' Southern Luzon Command
(Solcom) will dispatch a company of Army soldiers to help in maintaining peace
and preventing any election-related violence that might erupt in Masbate,
tagged as an election hot spot in Bicol.
According to Army Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman, 9th Infantry
Division spokesperson based in Pili, Camarines Sur, the deployment of 100
soldiers from their unit will augment the 500-strong Army battalion operating
in Masbate province.
Guzman said the sending of additional Army troops was a
directive from Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, Solcom chief, made during the
AFP-Philippine National Police (PNP)-Commission on Elections (Comelec) dialogue
on security preparation for the upcoming May elections in Masbate held on
Tuesday in Masbate
City
Quoting Visaya, Guzman said the augmentation is needed to
achieve peaceful and orderly elections in May, during which intense political
rivalry is prevalent and political armed groups (PAGs), including the communist
New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, remain a threat to the communities.
Visaya and Chief Supt. Augusto Marquez Jr., PNP Bicol
regional director, reactivated the Joint Masbate Task Force to be headed by
Police Sr. Supt. Lito Pitallano and Army Col. Samuel Felipe.
At the dialogue, Visaya gave a marching order to his men to
go after PAGs and NPA rebels that threaten to sow fear among residents during
the election campaign period.
He appealed to local candidates not to use PAGs to gain
advantage against their political rivals and also not to give in to the NPA
demand for PTC (permit to campaign) or PTW (permit to win).
Also during the Tuesday dialogue, joint police and military
units in Masbate launched the Safe and Fair
Elections (SAFE) drive aimed to address security concerns for a peaceful
election during the May 9 national and local polls.
At the dialogue, current peace and security issues were
addressed, such as only authorized military or police personnel should detailed
for security assignment to a political candidate.
The local candidates also agreed to sign an election peace
covenant among themselves on Feb. 26.
The event will be witnessed by top Comelec, AFP and PNP
officials.
Attending the dialogue were Masbate Gov. Vincent Revil;
former Gov. Antonio Kho and his wife, Rep. Olga Kho of the 2nd District; and
town mayors Narciso Bravo of San Fernando, Natividad Revil of Milagros, Romeo
Dela Rosa of Baleno.
Earlier, the reactivated Regional Special Operation Task
Group Masbate composed of 350 policemen from various PNP units, including a
company (100-strong) of Special Action Force commandos is now operating in Masbate .
The battalion of elite police unit will augment the 1,000
police force in the province.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=858037
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