80% of military troops in Eastern Visayas deployed to secure elections

CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines — At least 80 percent of the military forces from five battalions, based in Eastern Visayas, has been deployed to secure the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataang elections this year in the region.

Major General Raul Farnacio, commander of the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division confirmed the deployment to areas where there are intense political rivalries that will probably erupt into violence.

Farnacio mentioned Samar province and some areas in Northern and Eastern Samar provinces that have a history of political violence during Barangay and SK elections.

"We will not allow any violence to happen, that is why we in the 8th ID would continue to assess and review the situation, lalo na sa first district ng Samar where we have make sure na hindi makakagalaw ang ilan sa mga natitirang private armed groups (PAGs). We will see if we have to increase the number of troops sa mga lugar na ito," Farnacio told the media.

Installation of checkpoints in strategic areas, in coordination with police forces, is now going on. Some of these are in Calbayog City in Samar, and in the boundaries of Samar’s first district and Northern Samar, as well as in other areas in Leyte province.

Police records showed that, prior to the filing of their certificates of candidacy, two of the supposed candidates for barangay chairman at Barangays San Franciscio and Himaloloto, both in Gandara town of Samar, were separately killed by still unidentified gunmen.

Also in Matuguinao town of Samar, the brother of Barangay Del Rosario Chairperson Elvera Garcia, was also killed by suspected NPA rebels on Saturday.

Comelec-8 Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros, in a separate interview, told The Freeman and The Philippine Star that the police, the military, and the Comelec itself are set to reassess possible election areas of concern around the region.

Mendros also appealed to the candidates that peace, orderly and honest elections will actually come from them.

"Actually and gulo ay nangagaling sa mga kandidato at sumusunod na lang ang mga supporters nila. I tell you kung peace-loving ang mga kandidato, yun din ang ikikilos ng mga supporters. We are so much thankful na marami nang nagbibigay ng support ngayon sa Comelec in the advocacy for educated voters," Mendros said,

Farnacio added that political tensions or election-related violence have no place in a democratic society. He mentioned, without naming names, two big political clans in Samar that have a hand in political tensions.

Earlier reports also came out that NPA rebels have been intervening in the campaign and giving support to the candidates they want to win. (FREEMAN)