The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in MIMAROPA vows to ensure that the upcoming May elections will remain free from local terrorism and disruption.
Colonel Eric D. Guevarra, Deputy Brigade Commander of the 203rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army, assured the public that terrorist groups would not be able to infiltrate the electoral process due to intensified military operations.
“Malabo ‘yan dahil the rebels are busy at kapag naabot sila sa mga areas [ay] aabutan sila ng AFP. Tuloy-tuloy at sunod-sunod ang operations natin ngayon,” he said.
Guevarra added that military operations effectively limit the ability of the terrorist groups to collect revolutionary taxes or issue permits to campaign.
Regional Director Pedro Gabayan of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA)—MIMAROPA said that interventions of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) also contribute to the elimination of these practices.
“Mayroong covenant na pinipirmahan ang ating mga kandidato kasama na yung ating kapulisan at yung mga private sectors. Isa dun sa linya na pipirmahan ay hindi sila magbibigay,” Gabayan said.
He said that this is a great initiative that awakens political candidates to focus on winning through their efforts rather than financial incentives.
Meanwhile, Police Brigadier General Martin E. Defensor Jr. from the Police Regional Office (PRO) MIMAROPA said that authorities are still closely monitoring the 15 areas in Mindoro Island that are categorized as medium-risk or under the orange category.
COMELEC earlier said that areas under the orange category are those with serious armed threats. In MIMAROPA, these areas are mainly in southern Oriental Mindoro– from Bansud town to the towns of Occidental Mindoro, where remnants of three Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG) groups have been commonly encountered.
“Medium risk areas ‘yung nasa orange category, so it is not a critical area na maconsider natin na magiging magulo sa election. Ito lang yung medyo pinaigting lang natin yung alertness natin sa areas na ito because of some incidents tulad nung may mga encounters [at] may mga sightings,” Defensor explained.
Despite this, Defensor assured that these circumstances would not affect the overall conduct of the election.
Moreover, the RTF-ELCAC expressed confidence in achieving a smooth election season, citing the absence of intense political rivalries, election-related incidents and political armed groups in the region.
“Inaassure rin naman namin sa inyo sa mamamayan ng MIMAROPA na yung incoming election ay kayang gampanan ng Philippine National Police, katuwang yung lahat ng government agencies dito sa rehiyon,” Defensor assured.
The RTF-ELCAC also noted the success of peace rallies and covenant signings among political candidates as key contributors in maintaining a peaceful and orderly election campaign in MIMAROPA region. (Alma Nisperos/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro)
