Poll body to apply stricter procedure on Armm election (11:15 a.m.)
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is applying a more responsive protocol in the deployment of Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel in the August 11 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) elections.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the commission wants to ensure the peace and order situation in the region during the electoral exercises.
Jimenez also revealed that they are looking to revise the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) earlier signed by the Comelec and AFP before the May 2007 elections.
“I think the provisions should be reviewed and for us to iron out the kinks in the MOA so that we can have a smother mechanism in deploying them,” Jimenez said.
The AFP and Comelec signed a MOA in the late part of 2006 that prohibit military personnel from directly participating in the election process.
Jimenez noted that in the previous MOA, before the military can be deployed, the commission has to declare the area under Comelec control due to unavoidable situations.
The Comelec is set to hold a command conference with officials of the AFP and PNP to discuss the proper procedures for the Armm elections slated before the end of the month. (FP/Sunnex)
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