Military to ensure peaceful May village polls

This was emphasized by AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bienvenido Datuin (PNA photo)

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will coordinate with concerned authorities to ensure a peaceful and orderly Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14.

This was emphasized by AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bienvenido Datuin in a text message Saturday.

“The AFP in coordination with the Comelec (Commission on Elections) and the PNP (Philippine National Police) will work for an honest, orderly and peaceful Barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan election,” he added.

Datuin said AFP personnel can be deputized to set up checkpoints and monitor cities and municipalities to curb security threats and election-related violence.

During the May 2016 national elections, the AFP launched its National Election Monitoring Center (NEMC) which utilized information-related capabilities to monitor the preparations for and the actual conduct of elections and the canvassing process.

It also monitored election-related violence especially in identified election watch areas and provided necessary data for decision-making and execution of the Comelec and its deputized agencies.

Consolidated efforts of the AFP to secure the elections were coursed through its Unified Commands and the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.

Operations related to the security of the election were also done in coordination with the Joint Security Coordination Centers at the regional, provincial, and independent city levels.

On Saturday, the Comelec started accepting certificates of candidacies of persons vying for elective barangay posts.