Command center activated in Visayas for BSKE

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command (VISCOM) on Saturday activated a monitoring center at its headquarters in Camp Lapulapu, Cebu City for efficient deployment of security forces and close coordination with troops on the ground before and during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) tomorrow.

In a statement, VISCOM said its Election Monitoring Center (EMC) will have a direct line of communication with all the established Election Monitoring Action Centers, from the regional down to the municipal level.

“The Election Monitoring Center provides us with direct communication to our units on the ground, allowing us to have real-time information and updates on the situation, especially during the election,” VISCOM commander Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo said.

“This will also ensure smooth coordination between and among security forces and the Comelec (Commission on Elections) to expedite our response, in case of any eventualities that may occur during the election,” he added.

The VISCOM said the EMC will also facilitate coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard and the Comelec at the regional level.

“It will also oversee the deployment of security personnel to the polling centers in the entire Visayas region, monitor other election-related events or incidents, as well as the progress of the electoral process during election day. Likewise, the center will also receive and refer to appropriate agencies and AFP units complaints against security personnel manning the polling centers,” it added.

The EMC will be manned by the Army, Navy and Air Force officers and enlisted personnel under the VISCOM. The center will be open 24/7 to complement the Comelec’s command and operations center.

Meanwhile, the VISCOM on Saturday also deployed two combat utility helicopters in Negros Oriental to augment the ground forces in the province.

“The deployment of the two air assets in Negros Oriental is part of our contingency in case any hostile incidents may occur, especially during transport of the election returns after the voting period. These air assets aim to provide immediate close air support to our ground troops who will respond to these incidents,” Arevalo said.

The VISCOM said the two air assets – a Blackhawk and a Bell helicopter – will be pre-positioned at Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City and will be placed under the operational control of the 302nd Infantry Brigade.

“We don’t want to take any chances. We know that the peace and order situation in Negros Oriental is now stable and very much under control by the government. We just want the people to feel safe and secure as they cast their votes and ensure that the upcoming electoral process will be successful,” Arevalo said.

Negros Oriental was earlier placed under Comelec control for the duration of the election period. It has nine election watchlist areas, one of which is categorized as an area of concern due to intense political rivalry, while the other eight are categorized as areas of immediate concern due to reported sightings of Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) rebels.

The VISCOM said that at present, a total of 2,719 military personnel have already been deployed in the province – 1,285 of whom are currently conducting focused military operations at the outskirt communities in the province, “to deter and prevent the CPP-NPA from conducting hostilities that may disrupt the electoral process in these areas.”

3,800 police in Quezon City

At least 3,800 police officers will secure the conduct of the BSKE in Quezon City tomorrow.

Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, said the security contingent will ensure that no untoward incident will happen in the city’s 142 barangays during the elections.

Based on their records, Maranan said there are no areas of concern in Quezon City.

The QCPD’s 16 police stations have also provided assistance to the Comelec’s Oplan Baklas, an operation wherein campaign posters displayed outside the designated common poster areas are removed.

“The QCPD’s involvement in this operation highlights its proactive approach in maintaining law and order in Quezon City,” Maranan said in a statement.

In northern Metro Manila, around 1,615 police officers will be deployed in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela for the elections.

Just like in Quezon City, Northern Police District (NPD) director Brig. Gen. Rizalito Gapas said all barangays in their areas of responsibility are not included in the list of areas of concern.

“We have no election-related violent incidents so far,” Gapas said in Filipino and English in a text message.

Gapas is hopeful the peaceful situation will stay the same on election day. — Emmanuel Tupas, Rhodina Villanueva, Ghio Ong