Army starts election patrol
Members of the Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade already made known their presence in some areas of Panay Island.
This, following the kick-off ceremony for the visibility patrol for elections at the 301st Headquarters at Camp Hernandez, Dingle, Iloilo.
Three Army trucks with a large streamer at each side bearing the words “AFP For Honest, Orderly, Peaceful Elections” came out and patrolled the municipalities of Anilao, Dueñas, and Mina.
According to 301st IB commanding officer B/Gen. Gerardo Layug, the patrol will be done on a daily basis in several towns until and will end until the election is over.
“This is to show the people that your Armed Forces is committed for a credible election. This is in addition to our deployment of troops in some areas of Panay,” he added.
Layug believed that it is a way to curb violence in some towns of Iloilo.
“We are ready to show to them that we could react anytime. We can make this election credible,” he added.
The 301IB commander also assured that the said endeavour is devoid of any political color.
He stressed that the AFP, being non-partisan, is not favoring any party or candidate.
To note, Starting Thursday, Philippine Army troops in Panay were already placed on red alert status.
The troops will also be augmented by a company from the 3rd Infantry Division based in Camp Peralta, Jamindan Capiz.
This is beside from personnel of the Philippine Air Force and the and Engineering units in the area.
Particularly, Layug said that they would keep a tight watch on towns listed under election watchlist of areas category 2 or areas where there is presence of insurgents.
In Iloilo, Layug said that there are 11 towns with 55 rebel-affected barangays, Capiz with 103 barangays in 6 towns, and Antique 6 barangays with 4 towns.
Aklan was not included since the 3ID earlier declared it as insurgents-free.