By PMT Desk

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines – The Police Regional Office in Northern Mindanao, or Region 10, (PRO-10) based in Cagayan de Oro City will deploy additional officers to serve as special electoral board (SEB) members in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In a briefing on Monday, PRO-10 Director Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman announced that 400 officers will be deployed as SEB members, supporting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in ensuring a smooth and secure electoral process in the Bangsamoro region.

The deployment addresses the updated list of election hotspots released by the Comelec on March 19, including 30 towns in BARMM and approximately 20 of those located in Lanao del Sur.

Meanwhile, the commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) expressed confidence that the upcoming elections in BARMM will proceed peacefully and orderly.

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“Our comprehensive security contingencies are firmly in place, and as of now, we foresee no significant obstacles to the smooth conduct of the national and local elections next month,” Lt. General Antonio Nafarrete, Westmincom chief, said in a statement released Monday.

During a visit over the weekend to Camp Siongco, headquarters of the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division (6ID), Nafarrete told reporters that the areas under 6ID jurisdiction in Central Mindanao are adequately secured by forces from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army and Philippine Marines.

Regarding potential disruptions from the New People’s Army, including extortion activities, De Guzman stated that they continue to closely monitor operations in hinterland communities despite lack of reports.

“If municipal police stations perceive potential threats in their areas, the deployment of mobile forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be deemed necessary,” he said. (With reports from agencies)

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