AFP, PNP begin implementing poll security plans

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have begun implementing security plans for the May 10 elections even as the number of private armed groups has reportedly increased during the campaign period.

Army Col. Ricardo Nepomuceno, action officer of the Task Force HOPE (Honest, Peaceful and Orderly Elections), and Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo told a news briefing at the Palace that troops have been deployed in voting areas ahead of the polls.

Nepomuceno said special attention would be given to areas identified by security agencies as election hotspots.

“We have also placed troops and special units on standby that can readily be deployed to any possible flashpoint, but we hope that would not be necessary,” he said.

He added that the National Capital Region Command has also activated its civil disturbance management units or anti-riot personnel to address possible unrest before, during or after the elections.

He, however, said civil unrest was highly improbable given the security preparations and the peaceful nature of Filipinos.

Nepomuceno said AFP and PNP personnel would be placed on full alert days before the elections.

“The government is going all out to ensure that the country’s first automated polls next month would be peaceful and safe,” Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza said.

He said President Arroyo wants a smooth transfer of governance as a punctuation mark to her legacy of accomplishments.

“I believe we could achieve this by guaranteeing peaceful and safe elections,” Mendoza said.

PNP chief of operations Deputy Director Edgardo Acuña said police are looking at 10 provinces for heavy deployment, with Mindanao being the priority area.

He said the PNP had already deployed a company of the PNP Special Action Force in Basilan, Maguindano and Sulu.

Mendoza said the government has made contingency plans in the event of any unrest after the elections. He gave assurance that “peace and order will remain manageable.”

Arevalo said the situation in Basilan, site of recent blasts, was already stable.

The Zenarosa Commission, an independent body tasked to dismantle private armed groups, admitted yesterday the number of such groups has actually increased.

Commissioner Herman Basbaño said from an initial 112, government troops had dismantled 24 private armed groups.

However, the list was updated with fresh intelligence reports, showing an increase to 107.