AFP preparing action plan for barangay, SK elections

A ranking military official said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is preparing contingency measures to prevent communist rebels from disrupting the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Oct. 29.

AFP deputy chief for operations Maj. Gen. Jogy Leo Fojas said over state-run radio station Radyo ng Bayan that he submitted an action plan to the military leadership, which could be implemented next week to prevent the New People’s Army (NPA) from committing atrocities to influence the coming polls.

“I have already submitted my action plan to higher authorities and maybe next week we will be implementing this action plan already in order to, if not totally deter the efforts of the other side (NPA) to influence the result of the barangay elections in the hinterlands,” Fojas said.

He said the NPA is expected to try to influence the outcome of the barangay and SK elections, especially in remote villages in the country, because they want to gain the support of local officials.

Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Army spokesman, said that soldiers have recovered rebel documents which showed a plan to ask candidates for the barangay polls to pledge their commitment to oppose the establishment of military detachments and the recruitment of Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit militiamen.

Torres said the NPA is also asking candidates to give out 10 percent of the Internal Revenue Allotment to the NPA’s barangay revolutionary committee in exchange for the rebel movement’s support for the bets in the coming elections.

He said the rebels are also asking the candidates to give information on the movement of government forces in their respective areas.

Torres said that soldiers, however, are prepared to meet threats that might be posed by the NPA in remote communities in the country during the conduct of the barangay and SK polls, even with the limited role they are allowed to perform during elections as a result of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of National Defense and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The MOA says AFP personnel will only be deployed in a certain area to address any serious armed threat.

Soldiers are prohibited from serving as security escorts to candidates, board of election tellers, and Comelec officers. Military units are also banned from handling election paraphernalia.