Philippine Army (PA) Commanding General Lt. Gen. Roy Galido committed to help ensure the safe and secure conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on October 30.
Galido made the vow as he joined representatives from the Philippine National Police, Commission on Elections, and other stakeholders during a regional coordinating conference held in Cotabato City on Thursday, August 31, for this year’s BSKE.
Galido affirmed the commitment of the security forces for the successful BSKE particularly in BARMM, which had been marked by election-related violence in the previous years.
In fact, during the 2022 national and local elections, at least 102 areas in BARMM were considered as “hotspots” and placed under monitoring by the Philippine National Police, including Cotabato, Lamitan in Basilan, and Marawi City.
“The Army Chief affirmed the organization's active participation in ensuring the safe and timely conduct of elections in the region,” Col. Xerxes Trinidad, Army spokesperson, said.
Meanwhile, Major General Alex S. Rillera, the Commander of the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) based in Maguindanao, emphasized the readiness of the troops for the BSKE.
He said they already implemented a heightened monitoring of some areas of concern within Maguindanao including the conduct of strict checkpoints in major thoroughfares.
The conference was also attended by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Erwin Garcia, Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Steve Crespillo, representatives from the Philippine National Police, and BARMM.