At last, a peaceful election in Basilan

It has been a long time coming for residents of Al-Barka town in Basilan, but they finally had a peaceful election on Monday. Previous polls had made the town infamous for election-related violence and electoral fraud. But this time, it was different, primarily because of the combined efforts of the military, the Moro National Liberation Front, Moro Islamic Liberation Front and other armed groups. And though they operatled independently of each other, each group had one goal - to protect the elections from unlawful elements. “Armed civilians went to us and told us they will help. The MNLF under three commanders also went to the areas to provide support to us and ‘yung mga local barangay officials gave soldiers water and food,” Lt. Col. Tiny Perez, commander at the 18th Infantry Battalion, was quoted in a television report aired on GMA 7’s “24 Oras” on Tuesday. According to the television report, the MILF established checkpoints for road security, while the MNLF served as a blocking force against renegade groups such as the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement. Just a week ago, the military’s fought a gunbattle with the ASG in Al-Barka and two soldiers, including a junior officer, and six ASG gunmen were killed. “The MNLF and the MILF, they have a good understanding with the military according to AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines],” said Atty. Udtoy Tago, Basilan's Provincial Election Supervisor. — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/DVM, GMA News