TACLOBAN CITY – More than 10,000 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Coast Guard will be deployed across Eastern Visayas to secure the 2025 elections.
They will work together with the Commission on Elections-Regional Office 8.
Security preparations were discussed during the second Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) conference conducted by the 8th ID on Jan. 15. They discussed security deployment plans, threat assessments, and other significant activities.
The 8th ID said they are ready to secure the region and deployed personnel from three brigade sub-units in Northern Samar, Samar, and Leyte provinces.
They will focus on securing 26 municipalities identified as election areas of concern – 12 areas of concern, 13 areas of immediate concern, and one area under grave concern.
Joint checkpoints have been established in key locations: 17 in Northern Samar, 20 in Eastern Samar, 23 in Samar, 12 in Leyte, six in Southern Leyte, and one in Biliran province.
The Joint Task Force (JTF) Storm will conduct enhanced military and law enforcement operations with RJSCC-8 to prevent potential threats and violence.
Major Gen. Ariel Orio, 8th ID commander, reaffirmed the commitment of JTF Storm and its partner agencies to secure the elections in Eastern Visayas.
“Our preparations include maintaining the non-partisan role of military forces and fostering public confidence in their ability to protect our fellow Filipinos.”