Military vows security in Mindanao poll hotspots

ZAMBOANGA CITY  , Philippines  —   The military yesterday assured the public it would provide forces and maintain security for 454 towns and cities in Mindanao identified as hotspots and areas of concern during the midterm elections on May 13.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) commander Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega said they are prepared to provide the needed security to ensure peaceful and orderly elections.

“Yes, we will ensure that all those areas of concern, in cooperation and in coordination with our Philippine National Police (PNP) counterparts… will really be attended to as far as security requirements are concerned,” Dela Vega said.

Police General Oscar Albayalde on Monday reported that at least 941 areas were identified as “red areas” or areas of grave concern in the country, with more than half or 454 of those hotspots in Mindanao.

The areas listed required greater security attention, according to Albayalde.

Dela Vega said the security arrangement would be part of their discussion in the scheduled coordinating meeting on the level of Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center down to the provincial and municipal level to ensure that security measures will be prepared and adopted.

Dela Vega added that they would mobilize military forces as part of the security arrangement during the elections.

The Westmincom chief said the movement of troops for election security would not hamper their ongoing operations against terrorists, including the Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Maute group and New People’s Army.

“It will not abruptly affect our ongoing military operations because we will be rationalizing the available forces in our area of operations,” he said.