Two battalions of combined military and police troops will be mobilized in Masbate to contain the threat posed by New People’s Army and criminal syndicates to the May 2016 elections.
Southern Luzon Command Chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya said the continued existence of local insurgents and private armed groups in the island province is a primary security concern for authorities. Masbate is also under the Comelec watch list of potential flash points.
“We appeal to the candidates not to use PAGs,” Visaya said in a recent dialogue among stakeholders in Masbate, including local politicians led by Vicente Hommer Revil, Chief Supt. Augusto Marquez Jr., director of Police Regional Office-5. Visaya solicited the commitment of all candidates to make the elections peaceful and orderly in Masbate.
A total of 2,050 police and military personnel will be deployed to render election duties in Masbate, said Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman.
De Guzman said 100 troops from the Reconnaisance Company of the 9th Infantry Division will be reassigned to Masbate to beef up the 500-strong personnel of the 9th Infantry Battalion.
Guzman said the additional deployment of troops would help contain the threat pose by the rebels and PAGs currently operating in Masbate.
Despite attempts by the military and police to free the province from NPA presence, Masbate remained a rebel-infested area for years. Politicians keep the NPAs or PAGs under their employ to intimidate or defeat their opponents.
For his part, Marquez noted the presence of NPAs is a serious threat to the electoral contest as NPAs collects permit to campaign and permits to win from political candidates.
“Giving in to their demands for PTC and PTW will allow the NPAs to increase their finances and resources and that will create another and bigger problem for the AFP and PNP,” Marquez noted.
Visaya was elated by the attendance of local candidates during a recent dialogue.
“I am happy that despite their differences in political affiliations, they are one with the AFP and PNP in our common goal for a peaceful Masbate not only during the election period but more importantly for the greater future ahead,” said Visaya.