No security threats, says AFP

MANILA, Philippines – Despite sporadic cases of election violence, the military said it had not detected any “significant” security threat that could mar the elections.

However, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato yesterday said the public must be vigilant to prevent violence and other untoward incidents.

“We appeal to the public to remain alert and vigilant so that we can all work together to ensure the sanctity of the ballot in all areas on election day and after,” he said.

Detoyato said security forces have been deployed nationwide to ensure peaceful, orderly and credible polls.

All the 125,000 members of the AFP are on red alert, on  call around the clock in case of an emergency.

Last week, the military launched the National Election Monitoring Center to consolidate and coordinate information needed to ensure safe and fair polls.

The center will use the military’s information-related capabilities to monitor poll preparations, the actual conduct of elections and the canvassing process. It will also monitor election-related violence especially in identified election watch areas. 

In Maguindanao Saturday night, one civilian was killed and four civilians were wounded in three separate explosions.

Detoyato said the incident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. or 30 minutes before the end of the campaign period.

The explosions occurred in an area about a kilometer from the headquarters of the 45th Infantry Battalion in Shariff Aguak town. They were believed to have been fired from M203 or M79 grenade launchers.

Detoyato said troops have intensified operations to arrest the perpetrators.

“The casualties were brought to the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital,” he said.

Meanwhile, six people, including two policemen, were arrested Saturday night in connection with a shooting incident in Gattaran, Cagayan.

Detoyato said the shooting incident happened in Barangay Naduran near the house of Roevahn Elizaga, a candidate for councilor.

Policemen held two civilian vehicles and arrested six people. They also recovered three M16 rifles, five cal .45, two cal. 38 and one 9mm pistol.

Security forces on alert

Tens of thousands of security forces fanned out across the country yesterday on the eve of national polls, following a bitter and deadly election campaign plagued by rampant vote-buying and intimidation.

Elections are a traditionally volatile time in the country, infamous for lax gun laws and a violent political culture.

“Vote-buying is everywhere,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Luie Guia told reporters.

“We are receiving reports that everything is being used to buy votes, not only money. It could be (plastic) basins, groceries.”

Such small gifts are an effective, if illegal, way for politicians to win support in a nation where roughly one quarter of its 100 million people live below the poverty line.

To try to check vote buying, the election commission has banned mobile phones in polling places so people cannot photograph their ballots to prove to vote-buyers that they cast their ballots for the right candidates.

At the national level, presidential and vice presidential rivals are also accusing each other of trying to rig the elections.