Año: More troops to be deployed in 40 to 50 areas as local election campaign starts

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday said more government troops will be deployed in 40 to 50 areas across the country as the campaign for local elections is set to start on Friday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Año added these areas were spread in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

“As far as we know, nasa more or less 40 to 50 lang naman itong areas na ito. Pagde-deploy-an natin ng additional uniformed troops. Iba’t ibang lugar ito, nakakalat. Merong Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon,” he said.

(As far as we know, there are more or less 40 to 50 areas. We will deploy additional uniformed troops there. These are different places spread around the country. There are areas in Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon.)

Some of these areas are in Bicol Region, Northern Luzon, and Bangsamoro, he added.

Año made the statement when asked if the number of disorderly areas has increased as the local campaign for local positions will start on Friday.

He said the DILG will also monitor the compliance of the local campaigns to minimum public health standards or protocols against the spread of COVID-19.

In February, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said seven cities and 39 towns in the country may be under threat due to the national and local elections.—AOL, GMA News