Two senior officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Southern Mindanao visited Basilan province to personally evaluate the soldiers’ operational readiness and security preparations for the upcoming National and Local Elections (NLE) scheduled for Monday, 12 May.

Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry (Three Red Arrows) Brigade, said yesterday that Western Mindanao Command (WMC) chief Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete and Maj. Gen. Leonardo I. Peña, commander of the 11th Infantry “Alakdan” Division and Joint Task Force Orion, visited the province on Saturday.

Luzon warmly received Nafarrete and Peña at the headquarters of the TRAJAN Troopers, Camp Luis Biel II in Barangay Tabiawan, Isabela City, Basilan.

The visit aimed to ensure that all necessary measures are in place to guarantee a secure, peaceful, and orderly electoral process across the area of responsibility.

As part of the visit, Luzon presented a comprehensive briefing on the security deployment plan, covering key tasks, current security arrangements, identified threats and vulnerabilities, and proactive contingency plans.

These efforts, undertaken closely with the brigade’s operationally controlled units, aim to ensure a swift and effective response to any emerging security challenges within Basilan, he told Nafarrete and Peña.

For his part, Nafarrete provided Luzon with strategic guidance to further strengthen existing security protocols in the province.

Nafarrete emphasized the importance of maintaining a peaceful and orderly election, noting that the success of the electoral process largely depends on the military's proactive efforts and unwavering commitment to securing the voting public.

Present during the visit were Lt. Col. Adolf Ian Garceron, battalion commander of the 4th Special Forces Battalion; Lt. Col. Edmond Lanzar, battalion commander of the 32nd Infantry Battalion; Lt. Col. Mark Serapion Lagud, battalion commander of the 18th Infantry Battalion; and Lt. Col. Franco Baylon, battalion commander of the 45th Infantry Battalion.

Also in attendance were the company commanders of the 15th Civil‑Military Operations Company and 16th Military Intelligence Company, along with other key staff officers.