Army boosts security for BARMM polls

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — The Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10ID) deployed about 395 soldiers to the Bangsamoro region on Sunday to reinforce security for the historic Sept. 14 parliamentary elections.

Maj. Ruben Gadut, chief of 10ID’s Division Public Affairs Office, said the division deployed soldiers from the 67th Infantry Battalion and the 102nd Division Reconnaissance Company, following a send-off ceremony at Camp Gen. Manuel T. Yan Sr. in Barangay Tuboran, Mawab, Davao de Oro.

“The newly deployed units will bolster troops already on the ground, working alongside the 6th and 11th Infantry Divisions across their respective operational areas to ensure a peaceful and orderly electoral process,” Gadut said.

READ: GPH, MILF sign pact for peaceful BARMM polls

Some 300 Caraga policemen will also be deployed as electoral board members.

“They (soldiers) will augment existing troops in the island-province of Basilan and Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao del Sur,” Gadut told the Inquirer.

READ: Comelec all set for BARMM polls

Critical

Addressing the departing troops, 10ID commander Maj. Gen. Alvin Luzon pointed out the critical nature of their assignment, framing election duty as a direct defense of democratic rights.

“The right to vote is a fundamental right of every Filipino. Our responsibility is to help ensure that every voter can exercise this right freely, safely and without fear,” Luzon said in a statement.

Luzon ordered the soldiers to maintain strict discipline, professionalism and nonpartisanship, emphasizing full adherence to the Constitution, the rule of law and the mandate of the armed forces.

“Our loyalty is to the Constitution, to the people, and to our mission,” he added. /cb