By Priam Nepomuceno/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue its efforts to neutralize security threats, especially in areas with armed groups and lawless elements, to ensure that there will be no failure of election, its chief-of-staff said.
“This will proceed up to about a couple days before the actual elections and once those conducting clearing operations are in place, other troops who will provide security for the movement of election paraphernalia as well as personnel (will follow),” Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., told reporters Tuesday.
Madrigal said 40,000 troops will be tapped for the clearing operations while the rest will be tasked to secure the actual elections on May 13, along with members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit.
He cited communist terrorists, local terrorists, and private armed groups as the source of possible threats.
The AFP earlier said it will deploy 98,000 troops to support the 149,830 Philippine National Police personnel tasked to secure the elections.
Bulk of this force will be sent to areas in Mindanao that are facing threats from communist and local terrorist groups, Madrigal added.
“The AFP will also continue to intensify military operations, intelligence monitoring, community support programs and other efforts to prevent corrupt and destruction elements that intend to jeopardize and disrupt the conduct of the elections,” he said.
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