AFP to focus on 3 Bangsamoro areas in securing May polls

MARAWI CITY, BARMM, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines is training its security focus on three provinces in the Bangsamoro region for the elections on May 12.

Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), told a gathering of political candidates here on Tuesday to help the military in securing the electoral process.

Nafarrete said Westmincom is focused on Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur “due to the presence of multiple red areas,” referring to localities with high potential for election-related violence and disruptions.

READ: 11 more LGUs now ‘red’ in poll security watch

Currently, Lanao del Sur has 20 localities under the “red” category of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), nine in Maguindanao del Sur and two in Maguindanao del Norte.

Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao del Norte is also under Comelec control due to the ambush of its municipal election officer last month.

“I personally attend this forum to show my personal commitment and support for a peaceful and secured election. I wanted to see each of the participants making their oath and commitment to do the same over the Holy Quran,” Nafarrete said. —Richel V. Umel