A total of 150 soldiers of the 62nd Infantry Battalion were deployed by the Philippine Army to Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on Saturday to secure the violence-hit town ahead of the May 13 elections. (Photo courtesy of 303rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army)
The Philippine Army deployed 150 soldiers to Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental over the weekend, a day after authorities recommended that the central Negros town be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of 3rd Infantry Brigade, told reporters Saturday that it is necessary to bring in such number of additional troops to ensure peace and order in the municipality going into the elections on May 13.
"We want show the people in Moises Padilla that the (security) forces there should be the government forces, and nothing else. Not the New People's Army (NPA), not the private armed groups," he added.
The troops, comprised of a company of soldiers from the 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB), arrived in three armored vehicles, two 6x6 military trucks, and 10 light trucks.
Arevalo led the send-off of the troops in a ceremony held in front of the poblacion public market on Saturday morning.
Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, commanding officer of 62IB; Capt. Junji Liba, chief of Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station; and assistant election officer Rosana Lamec, witnessed the deployment of the soldiers.
Arevalo dismissed speculations of possible "militarization" in the violence-hit town considering the number of troops and resources deployed in the area.
He said both the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police are beefing up the presence of the government forces in Moises Padilla based on instructions from the Comelec.
"Our authority is coming from the Comelec. It is not my commander who approved the deployment. It's actually Atty. (Salud Milagros) Villanueva. As she is the head of the Comelec here (in Negros Occidental), we asked for her approval," Arevalo added.
The Comelec has placed Moises Padilla under Category Red, which means it is an "area of grave concern", with a history of election-related incidents in the last two elections and intense political rivalry, adding that there is the serious armed threat posed by the NPA and other lawless elements.
On Friday, the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC), composed of Comelec-Negros Occidental, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, and the Philippine Army's'303rd Brigade, as well as Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., recommended to the Comelec en banc to place Moises Padilla under the Comelec control.
Villanueva said violence by private armed groups and the presence of NPA were considered factors for the municipality to be placed under Comelec control.
On Thursday morning, two family members of Vice Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, who is running for mayor, were killed by heavily armed men along Sitio Dresden in Barangay Inolingan on their way home from a house-to-house campaign.
The incident claimed the lives of her nephew, reelectionist Councilor Jose Antonio "Michael" Garcia; and her brother, former Association of Barangay Captains president Jose Marcelino "Mark" Garcia.
In Moises Padilla alone, Councilor Michael Garcia was the second town official killed during the campaign period.
Last March 31, Councilor Jolomar Hilario, who is also seeking reelection, was gunned down by members of the NPA at his residence, also in Barangay Inolingan.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1068387
The Philippine Army deployed 150 soldiers to Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental over the weekend, a day after authorities recommended that the central Negros town be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of 3rd Infantry Brigade, told reporters Saturday that it is necessary to bring in such number of additional troops to ensure peace and order in the municipality going into the elections on May 13.
"We want show the people in Moises Padilla that the (security) forces there should be the government forces, and nothing else. Not the New People's Army (NPA), not the private armed groups," he added.
The troops, comprised of a company of soldiers from the 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB), arrived in three armored vehicles, two 6x6 military trucks, and 10 light trucks.
Arevalo led the send-off of the troops in a ceremony held in front of the poblacion public market on Saturday morning.
Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, commanding officer of 62IB; Capt. Junji Liba, chief of Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station; and assistant election officer Rosana Lamec, witnessed the deployment of the soldiers.
Arevalo dismissed speculations of possible "militarization" in the violence-hit town considering the number of troops and resources deployed in the area.
He said both the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police are beefing up the presence of the government forces in Moises Padilla based on instructions from the Comelec.
"Our authority is coming from the Comelec. It is not my commander who approved the deployment. It's actually Atty. (Salud Milagros) Villanueva. As she is the head of the Comelec here (in Negros Occidental), we asked for her approval," Arevalo added.
The Comelec has placed Moises Padilla under Category Red, which means it is an "area of grave concern", with a history of election-related incidents in the last two elections and intense political rivalry, adding that there is the serious armed threat posed by the NPA and other lawless elements.
On Friday, the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC), composed of Comelec-Negros Occidental, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, and the Philippine Army's'303rd Brigade, as well as Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., recommended to the Comelec en banc to place Moises Padilla under the Comelec control.
Villanueva said violence by private armed groups and the presence of NPA were considered factors for the municipality to be placed under Comelec control.
On Thursday morning, two family members of Vice Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, who is running for mayor, were killed by heavily armed men along Sitio Dresden in Barangay Inolingan on their way home from a house-to-house campaign.
The incident claimed the lives of her nephew, reelectionist Councilor Jose Antonio "Michael" Garcia; and her brother, former Association of Barangay Captains president Jose Marcelino "Mark" Garcia.
In Moises Padilla alone, Councilor Michael Garcia was the second town official killed during the campaign period.
Last March 31, Councilor Jolomar Hilario, who is also seeking reelection, was gunned down by members of the NPA at his residence, also in Barangay Inolingan.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1068387
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