ILOILO City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are mobilizing thousands of personnel across Western Visayas to ensure peaceful and orderly elections on May 9.
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has 13,000 cops to secure polling precincts.
“We also have police personnel to man checkpoints and conduct saturation drives,” said PRO-6 spokesman Police Lieutenant Arnel Solis.
So far, the PRO-6 has not monitored private armed groups (PAGs), said Solis, but there are “potential groups.”
“Ara aton intelligence personnel naga-monitor sa ila,” Solis said.
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), on the other hand, is mobilizing over 5,000 soldiers to help the police, especially in areas with insurgency problems.
Captain Kim Apitong, 3ID spokesperson, said “force multipliers” will be tapped, too, but he gave o specifics.
“We have enough men sa elections handang tumulong sa PNP. Kailangan mag tulongan tayo para sa mapayapang election,” said Apitong./PN
