• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) is utilizing 6,741 troops to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in Western Visayas on Oct. 30.
Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, head of the 3ID Public Affairs Division, said the deployment consists of military and members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (CAA) from the 301st, 302nd and 303rd Infantry Brigades.
Of the 172 election areas of concern (EACs) in Western Visayas, 51 are in Negros Occidental.
The 3ID has also a Quick Reaction Force composed of 66 military officers, 721 enlisted personnel, and 155 CAA members with 60 mobility assets strategically positioned in Western and Central Visayas provinces.
Javines said the resolute and election-ready personnel of the 3ID will bolster other security forces in conducting checkpoints, securing polling precincts, and performing other election-related tasks, particularly in identified EACs in Regions 6 and 7.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command also deployed an additional 181 security forces in Negros Occidental, which has been placed under the Commission on Elections control due to the occurrence of violent incidents in the previous months. | GB
