The Philippine Army has deployed nearly 12,000 troops and militiamen to secure the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala announced in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo that around 11,900 soldiers and Cafgu Active Auxiliary members from the 1st, 6th, and 11th Infantry Divisions were deployed as of 6 September.
Armored and field artillery units were also assigned to provide mobility and fire support capabilities.
The deployment includes the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, which will be stationed in the region before the historic 14 September polls.
Additional support forces have been mobilized across multiple units.
The 10th Infantry “Agila” Division deployed personnel from the 67th Infantry Battalion and the 102nd Division Reconnaissance Company to augment local security operations.
Meanwhile, the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division deployed two additional provisional battalions on 31 August to bolster security in Lanao del Sur.
Meantime, the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division completed its pre-deployment orientation training for Quick Reaction Force personnel at Camp Siongco.
Dema-ala cited that this deployment comes in addition to eight infantry battalions already conducting security operations in the region.
He also assured the public that military personnel will remain professional, impartial and non-partisan throughout the voting process.
The spokesperson stressed that the Army stands with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the national government to ensure citizens in the region can vote for their leaders without fear for their safety.
