AFP now on red alert for elections

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is now on red alert throughout the country, in preparation for Monday's national and local elections.

 

“The AFP, in accordance with its election plans, (raised) its alert status. We are on red alert effective today,” AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.

 

All military personnel are now on alert to do election duties assigned to them, said Tutaan.

 

Soldiers will also protect polling centers and continue doing security operations, he added.

 

“In headquarters, like in general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, we are also on red alert because we are monitoring other functions like monitoring and ensuring that our units on the ground are supported and performing their tasks,” Tutaan said.

 

With the red alert status, the military is ready to to contain, if not prevent, more potential violence associated with the polls.

 

The Philippine National Police earlier reported 66 election-related violent incidents, which left 44 people dead.

 

“One of the reasons for the alert is also to be proactive in all measures. This is preventive so that we can arrest immediately any possible violence…If inadvertently it cannot be prevented, we are able to react and conduct security operations to prevent any spill over or any other major violence or major incidents that may occur,” Tutaan said.

 

“The red alert status is to ensure that all units in the AFP are prepared and are ready for the election this coming Monday,” Tutaan added.

 

The AFP spokesman said security measures have been put in place to ensure a safe and free elections. These measures were done in coordination with the Comelec and the PNP.

 

“These are all in place, all systems go as we say. Our coordination with Comelec and the Philippine National Police have been doubly heightened so that these efforts will  be coordinated and will really be attuned to making the elections safe and free,” Tutaan said. —KG, GMA News