AFP vows peaceful BARMM polls despite reported MILF friction

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said the military will ensure a peaceful conduct of the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections despite the reports on supposed friction within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In a press briefing, AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla was asked if the reported division in the MILF leadership will affect the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) polls.

“We are working under the umbrella of the [Commission on Elections] in this and working hand in hand with the Philippine National Police to ensure the peaceful and orderly elections,” Padilla said.

“So ito pong mga situation in the area, meron naman po tayo monitoring with this. Sabi ko nga, nagtutulungan tayo sa iba't ibang ahensya rin to ensure the successful and peaceful elections,” he added.

(We are monitoring these situations in the area. As I said, we are also working with various agencies to ensure the successful and peaceful elections.)

On Monday, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. noted the recent concern raised by former peace negotiators over the apparent divisions within the MILF leadership.

“We call on all those who have accompanied the government and the MILF during the protracted negotiations to exert their moral influence on its leaders in the hope that they may overcome their rift for the sake of the broader interest of peace in the region,” Galvez said in a statement.

Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Antonio Nafarrete during the press briefing vowed that the casting of votes during the BARMM elections will not be impeded.

“Rest assured that we will be there to secure para hindi ma-impede yung mga tao natin para bumoto,” he said.

“The whole division is there and we have our local forces. So the 4th Infantry Division and the 10th Infantry Division. We have follow-on forces already. But we have six battalions that can further follow on,” he added.

According to the Comelec, the BARMM elections are set on October 13 and the campaign period has started August 28 until October 11. — BAP, GMA Integrated News