Army ready to secure election in Maguindanao

ILIGAN CITY — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are reportedly prepared to secure the election process in Maguindanao in May this year, said Major General Anthony Alcantara in an interview Friday morning at the 601st army brigade in Ditucalan here.

“We have enough forces to address the needs of the election process and protect the civilian populace for an honest, orderly and peaceful election in the province,” Alcantara said.

The 6th Infantry Division through the 104th army brigade has seven battalions deployed in the province to include the 45th IB from Cagayan Valley, 46th IB from Samar, 33rd IB from Lanao del Sur, 29th IB from Bukidnon, Scout Ranger battalion and the Special Forces battalion that would serve the entire electorate in Maguindanao.

The Commission on Elections, the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have already established a Security Control Center in Shariff Aguak to oversee and monitor the entire election-related activities since January.

Alacantara, however, said the peace and order in Maguindanao has greatly improved and restored through the leadership of Maguindanao OIC Provincial Gov. Ina Ambolodto.

With this, he said they are looking for the full implementation of basic social services and development initiatives in the province.

The military also continued to search more fire-arms believed hidden within the Ampatuans’ properties and other suspected areas.

So far, more than 1,000 assorted high powered firearms and truckloads of assorted ammunitions have been recovered by the AFP operating troops and PNP, which were turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operatives of the PNP for ballistic examinations.

Alcantara said the Ampatuans probably accumulated these armaments through the years.

Related to this, Alacantara said the AFP had awarded merit medals to officers and members of the 601st brigade under Col. Leo Cresante Ferrer for their efforts in discovering the arm cache after the gruesome massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao massacre on Nov. 23, 2009.

Meanwhile, Alacantara said the Commission on Election’s gun ban has been strictly implemented in the province which aimed to achieve a zero crime inci-dence even beyond the election period.

Related to this, Alacantara lauded the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for its cooperation while the Suspension of Military Operations of the AFP and Suspension of Military Action of the MILF are in place.

As this developed, the Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities has been properly coordinating with the government while the peace negotiation is on progress.