Eastmincom security preps ‘good to go’ for May polls

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 26, 2022): Eastmincom security preps ‘good to go’ for May polls (By Che Palicte)

Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command. (PNA file photo)

DAVAO CITY – The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) and its partner agencies have finalized the preparations for secure, accurate, free, and fair elections in May 2022.

Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, Eastmincom commander, said security preparations are in place, particularly on the deployment of troops and contingency measures in sites identified as "election areas of concern" in the region.

In a statement on Monday, Almerol said the preparation was the result of the series of Regional Joint Security Control Center command conferences with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Philippine National Police (PNP), and other government security agencies.

In addition, Almerol said they are also eyeing the possibility of tapping reserved and forward service units to beef up the deployment of troops on May 9.

He said the preparations include intensified random checkpoints and ensuring that available resources are ready for deployment, especially during the transport of election materials to polling centers.

Apart from this, he assured the public that the series of surrenders among the communist New People's Army (NPA) members and the collapse of their units has undermined the group enough to prevent it from conducting atrocities.

"Now that they are in a very weak position, we are confident that the NPA cannot disrupt our people from exercising their rights," Almerol said.

Despite this, however, he said the military remain on high alert to prevent any untoward incident to happen, especially in areas with security concerns.

Comelec deputized the Eastmincom as one of the law enforcement agencies and government instrumentalities to undertake security operations during the election period.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172872