Security forces in Lanao del Sur prepare for barangay polls

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 2 (PIA) --- Security forces in the province are now preparing to ensure that the upcoming barangay elections will be orderly and peaceful.

In a forum on Barangay Elections held here recently, army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Glenn G. Macasero said they will be activating monitoring and command centers like the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (JPSCC), Provincial Election Monitoring Action Center (PEMAC), and Municipal Election Monitoring Action Center (MEMAC) to achieve peaceful elections this October 28.

He said security forces will also be deployed during the filing of certificates of candidacy, deployment of election paraphernalia, canvassing of votes, proclamation of winners, and retrieval of election paraphernalia.

“We are still finalizing the details on how we will transport and secure the election paraphernalia. Because we only have limited number of security personnel, we really need to schedule and properly plan this out,” Macasero said.

Aside from the deployment of security forces, he said reaction forces will also go around to secure the problem areas.

Macasero said intense family feud (Rido) and political rivalry; proliferation of loose firearms; partisan armed groups; organized crime groups; power interruption, lack of communication; availability of Board of Election Tellers (BETs); human barricade or other forms of obstruction to prevent or delay deployment of BETs, forms and supplies; intentional and unintentional destruction of elections forms, supplies and equipment; and  misdelivery of ballots, forms, supplies and equipment are among the major issues and challenges identified for this barangay elections.

With that, Macasero encouraged other civil society organizations (CSOs) in the province to help them in monitoring the elections.

He said the KASALIMBAGO Movement will be going around the province to meet candidates and help the security forces in setting a dialogue with candidates and eventually for the signing of peace covenants.

KASALIMBAGO Movement is a network of government and CSOs committed to strengthening democratic ideals in the province through electoral reforms and other activities.

Other preparations for the barangay polls include conduct of joint checkpoint operations, sustained peace building measures with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and request for police members to be trained as BETs.