Army deploys more troops for Metro Manila polls

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army fielded additional troops yesterday to help the Philippine National Police in securing today’s elections in Metro Manila.

The Army’s poll contingency force was strengthened with the arrival of more personnel and assets at Fort Bonifacio, according to Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad.

Trinidad said two more platoons were deployed as augmentation force for the Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR).

The Philippine Army fielded a composite company to augment JTF-NCR troops at the start of the election period on Jan. 31.

The military personnel were deployed in parts of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and Quezon City.

Trinidad said the Philippine Army has assigned 51 vehicles and four air assets to assist the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in transporting election paraphernalia.

Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. had placed the Philippine Army under red alert to ensure that all units are ready to address possible threats that may arise during the elections.

Trinidad said the Army’s poll contingency force has been beefed up with the Aviation Regiment’s two helicopters; Armor Division assets, which include fire support vehicles, armored personnel carriers with remote control weapon system and mounted mortar carriers; the Army Support Command’s light tactical vehicles as well as military trucks and ambulances.

The First Scout Ranger Regiment and Special Forces Regiment also deployed troops to boost the contingency force. The Armor Division deployed a mechanized infantry company at the Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.

Trinidad said the initial contingency force is composed of the Civil Disturbance Management, K9 Unit, Explosives Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear teams.