AFP: No serious threat to barangay, SK elections

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday said it has not monitored any serious threat to the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Monday.

"Thus far, there is no serious threat monitored in regard to the conduct of elections," the AFP said in a statement.

Despite this, the AFP said it has placed contingency measures and deployed an undetermined number of soldiers to "red areas" or elections hot spots identified by the Commission on Elections.

Leading to election day, the AFP said it had conducted focused combat, intelligence and civil military operations to make sure private armies, local terrorists and communist rebels will not "take advantage or hamper" the elections.

"By securing the people to go out and reflect their will in the ballots, we are assured of barangays that will partner with the AFP in bringing about peace and stability in the countryside," it added.

In an earlier Super Radyo dzBB interview, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño said the Philippine National Police has deployed 80 percent of its 190,000-strong force to secure the elections on Monday.

Diño assured the public that all law enforcement agencies will be on alert during the elections.

He said that as of Sunday morning, they have recorded 25 election-related deaths.

He also said they have been receiving reports of harassment by local officials. —ALG, GMA News