• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) has deployed 2,522 troops and mobility assets to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the May 12 national and local elections in Negros Island Region (NIR).
The send-off ceremonies started on May 6, with the 303rd Infantry Brigade in Negros Occidental dispatching 1,034 soldiers in different areas of operations and the 302nd Infantry Brigade fielding 1,487 soldiers in Negros Oriental and other portions of Central Visayas.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, 3ID commander, said they are making comprehensive pre-deployment preparations to ensure that soldiers effectively perform their election duties, including securing of voters, board of election inspectors, and Commission on Elections personnel as well as the voting areas.
“Our goal is to guarantee that the people of Western Visayas, Central Visayas and NIR can safely and freely exercise their right to suffrage and to ensure a fair, safe, honest, and credible elections,” Samson said.
The 3ID also deployed 1,126 troops and 48 mobility assets in Western Visayas.
An additional 274 personnel with one mobility asset were also sent by the 3ID to various locations in the region.
Before deployment, the troops received an orientation briefing, emphasizing non-partisanship, maintaining order and security, and adherence to election laws and regulations, which also covered deployment guidelines.
They also underwent comprehensive training and coordination exercises, including contingency planning, crowd control, and legal orientation, preparing them for deployment to strategic locations to provide security and support before, during, and after the elections. | GB
