By Priam Nepomuceno/PNA
MANILA — Security in highly-sensitive events such as elections can be made easier through closer coordination between the police and local government units.
This was stressed Thursday by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato when asked what security lessons were learned by the military during its deployment of troops to the recently-concluded Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscites.
The two plebiscites, held on January 27 and February 6, concluded without any untoward incidents recorded.
“Close coordination with counterparts in the PNP (Philippine National Police) and LGU (Local Government Unit) makes security deployment and employment easier,” Detoyato said in a message to the Philippine News Agency.
The AFP deployed an estimated 10,000 troops to secure the two elections along with their police counterparts.
Another lesson, which is now being incorporated into various security protocols, is the inclusion of the so-called “suicide bombers”.
“The probability of suicide bombers in future and incoming security engagements and taskings are seriously taken into consideration in the planning and implementation of security procedures and protocols,” Detoyato stressed.
This came after suspected suicide bombers managed to sneak into the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu and detonated two improvised explosive devices, killing 23 and wounding 100 others last January 27.
