MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–The 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army assured that they are ready to ensure the safety of voters in the province during the elections next month.
Brigade commander BGen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II said they have repositioned some of their forces to ensure strong security protection for the May 9 national and local elections. In addition, augmentation forces from the Tabak Division will also be coming to the province to help them secure the conduct of elections.
He said they are also setting their sights on places with a history of election-related violence as well as those hotly contested places.
“Sa mga contested places nakikipag-usap naman ako dun sa mga kandidato privately and ask them for their support na maging successful and peaceful itong election [in contested places, I talked to the candidates privately and ask for their support to make this election successful and peaceful],” he said.
Acknowledging the possibility of an influx of flying voters, Cuerpo said he already instructed the Brigade’s lower units to implement measures to prevent flying voters from entering the province.
“(Sa mga flying voters) I hope wag na nilang gawin ito, underwise magkakaproblema sila kung papasok sila dito sa [To the flying voters, I hope they won’t do this, underwise they will have problems if they enter] Lanao del Sur,” he warned.
The Brigade commander further disclosed that they have ample forces ready to serve as a quick reaction force for areas that may experience sparks of small election violence.
Meanwhile, some of its forces are deployed to secure the transportation of election paraphernalia to selected municipalities in the province which started Tuesday, April 26. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)
Photo caption:
103rd Infantry Brigade Commander BGen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II assures the voting public in Lanao del Sur that his troops are ready to ensure the safety of voters in the province during the elections next month. (Michael John Paclar/PIA Lanao del Sur)
