TACLOBAN CITY — The Armed Forces of the Philippines deployed a company-size troop from Eastern Visayas to augment the state forces that will help maintain a peaceful and orderly conduct of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in Negros Oriental.

8th Infantry Division assistant division commander Brig. Gen. Perfecto P. Peñaredondo led the send-off ceremony of troops at the Tactical Operations Group 8, Air Force headquarters here last 17 October 2023.

He stressed that the troops will play a vital role in securing a free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible BSKE in Negros Oriental.

The deployed troops are a composite team from the 14th Infantry Battalion, 46th Infantry Battalion, 52nd Infantry Battalion and 78th Infantry Battalion.

Peñaredondo also reminded the soldiers not to loosen their guard and stay vigilant while maintaining discipline, professionalism, and respect for human rights as they perform their sworn duty, and as a deputized agency of the Commission on Election in securing fair and honest elections.

Earlier, Negros Oriental Comelec provincial election supervisor Atty. Eliseo Labaria identified 27 villages as "areas of grave concern" — one with yellow category indicating a history of election-related incidents and 26 in orange category or with "serious armed threats."