Comelec OKs deployment of soldiers to Antique

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the deployment of soldiers to Antique, following the request of the provincial poll supervisor, a ranking official said yesterday.

In a press conference, Comelec Commissioner Resureccion Borra said they granted the request of the provincial elections supervisor to allow an augmentation force from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Borra explained that their field officers, in coordination with regional police and military officers, could request the deployment of soldiers in cases where personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are not sufficient.

He did not say whether the request was due to the presence of a serious armed threat, which is the requirement before AFP personnel can be deployed to provide security during the election period.

This is the first area in the country where soldiers have been deployed to augment the police force.

Borra said that starting today, all the Comelec commissioners would go to their respective areas of assignment to personally assess the peace and order situation, which would be their basis for declaring areas of concern, or those that would be placed under Comelec control, or whether there is a need for the deployment of soldiers.

The memorandum of agreement, which was signed by former defense secretary Avelino Cruz and Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, states that the poll body, during national and local elections, including special elections, plebiscites, initiatives, referenda and other electoral exercises, shall only deputize actual units or commands of the AFP in areas affected by serious armed threats to the electoral process as jointly identified by the Comelec, the DND and the AFP.

The term "serious armed threat," according to the MOA, shall refer to the presence of paramilitary forces, private armies, or identifiable armed bands widely perceived to have committed or is committing terrorism, fraud or other election irregularities that threaten or tend to disrupt the holding of free, honest and orderly elections in any political subdivision or unit or any part thereof.

"In such areas covered by the serious armed threats where specific AFP units or commands will be deputized by Comelec, only the commander and the officers and members actually assigned to the said AFP units shall be deputized by the poll body," it further said.

The deputation of AFP personnel would be limited to providing security to the area with serious armed threat by deploying sufficient troops to man, patrol and provide military visibility in the area, manning checkpoints in locations jointly identified by the poll body and the AFP and enforcing the gun ban.

Under the agreement, soldiers would not be allowed to count or canvass votes, take part in clustering of precincts and transport the ballots, other election paraphernalia and election results. The AFP would not allow its communication facilities as well as other equipment to be used in the conduct of elections.

However, AFP units may be requested by the Comelec to provide land, air and naval vessel escorts to transportation facilities contracted by the poll body when the PNP cannot address the threat.

Soldiers would no longer be allowed to act as security escorts of candidates. They cannot provide security to polling places and to members of the board of election inspectors, as well as Comelec personnel and other government employees performing election functions.