By Richel Umel/Philippine News Agency
ILIGAN CITY — The 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army here activated the Task Force “Pinili-ay” (Election) to support security measures for orderly and peaceful local and national elections in the province of Lanao del Norte and Iligan City.
The TF Pinili-ay will establish its command center at Governor Arsenio A. Quibranza Provincial Government Center in Pigcarangan, Tubod, Lanao del Norte beginning May 10.
Col. Alex Aduca T. Aduca, 2nd Mech Deputy Brigade Commander, was designated as TF Pinili-ay Commander.
“Without any reservations we accept the responsibility, designation and the function of the Task Force Pinili-ay not only as preparation, but we should do it in action. Let us show that we can do something, that we can do our task, our function with utmost dedication,” he said in an interview on Saturday.
“We should believe that we are the force to reckon with. We should believe in our capability and our strength that we can secure the conduct of local and national election,” he added.
The task force, composed of the 4th and 5th Mechanized Infantry Battalions, 51st IB and 11th Division Reconnaissance Company, will deploy troops in 22 municipalities of Lanao del Norte and 44 villages of Iligan City.
Aduca said they are mandated to protect not only the candidates and the voters but also the facilities in coordination with the security sectors like the Philippine National Police, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Elections.
“We will not allow any precinct to be challenged na hindi maging (that it will not become) successful in the conduct of elections. We do not want any failure on any precincts in 642 barangays of Lanao del Norte and 44 barangays of Iligan City,” he said.
Brig. Gen. James Ezra P. Enriquez, 2nd Mech Brigade commander, said “in securing the elections, we must remain as non-partisan.”
“As members of the Armed Forces, we cannot campaign for or against any candidates but we were given a chance to exercise our right to vote,” he said.
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