Military augmentation forces get Comelec briefing
BINMALEY—The Commission on Election (Comelec) provincial office organized a briefing last week for some 50 members of the 702nd battalion army brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who have been posted in Pangasinan as augmentation force for the October 28 barangay election.
Lawyer Marino Salas, provincial election supervisor, said the briefing was a reorientation on their duties and functions during campaign periods and on election day.
Some 100 members of the army brigade were earlier deployed in the province to serve as the quick response forces (QRF) and as support to the policemen in conducting checkpoints.
More augmentation forces from the AFP are expected to arrive in anticipation of highly emotionally-charged the barangay election.
A total of 250 army personnel were sent as augmentation force to Pangasinan in the May 2013 election.
“We are short with policemen considering the number of precincts so we asked for the support of the AFP,” Salas said.
The Comelec also held a regional command conference on Friday to assess the peace situation in each of the provinces in Region 1 to determine the areas of concern on which the total number of augmentation forces to be requested will be based.
Meanwhile, Comelec advised the public cooperate with its checkpoints manned by uniformed personnel. —Dada Austria
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
