10th IB monitors MisOcc election security

Two weeks before the campaign period, the 10th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army closely monitored the province of Misamis Occidental for poll security concerns.

During the Let’s Talk MisOcc virtual forum, Infantry Battalion Civil Operations Officer Lt. Aries Manalili said that the military would be monitoring those areas where there were trouble observed.

The campaign period for national candidates began on February 8. For local candidates, the campaign period begins on March 25.

But even this early, tensions are already felt in the local race, with two shooting incidents related to electoral candidates in the province: one, with a mayor running for vice governor in the province killed and a shooting incident over a mayor aspirant in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.

“Ang ating insurgency dito sa probinsya na momonitor natin, nandiyan po ang ating kasundalohan at asahan niyo po na patuloy namin e-momonitor nang sa ganun ay hindi magkaroon ng incidente na involve po sila,’’ he said.

(The insurgency here in the province are being monitored, your army is present and you can expect us to continue to monitor so that there will be no incident involving them)

Manalili shared the role of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the coming election.

“Sa amin po, ang pinaka-mandato namin ay ang pagpapanatili ng peace and order particularly dito sa probinsya ng Misamis Occidental. Kaagapay din natin ang PNP sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan at seguridad ng probinsya,” he said.

(For us, our main mandate is to maintain peace and order particularly here in the province of Misamis Occidental with the support of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in maintaining peace and order, security in the province)

As for the conduct of election in the province, Manalili reiterated that the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Comelec are here to give security to make sure that there will be no illegal activities that will happen during the election period.

“Ang mandato po namin ay magbigay ng protection, seguridad sa mga mamamayan ng Misamis Occidental. Kami po sa Philippine Army basta kinakailangan at kung saan man, maasahan niyo po na lagi naming aaksyunan, pag-iigihan ang aming mandato na masigurado na maging safe yung pag-conduct ng election,” he added.

(Our mandate is to provide protection, security to the people of Misamis Occidental. We in the Philippine Army as long as necessary and wherever, you can count on us to always take action, fulfill our mandate to ensure that the conduct of the election is safe)

He also emphasized that the AFP will remain nonpartisan.

The army urged the public to report any recruitment activities in the province. "If there are incidents such as communist terrorist group approaching and giving promises, people should not get involved and report to right away to the authorities so that insurgency can be prevented," he said. (SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)