THE Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) has tasked its joint task forces with strengthening security to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the midterm elections on May 12, 2025, in its areas of operation.
The task forces and their areas of responsibility are as follows: Joint Task Force (JTF)-Central, covering Central Mindanao; JTF-ZamPeLan, covering the Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao provinces; JTF-Orion, covering Basilan and Sulu; and JTF-Zamboanga, covering Zamboanga City. The 2nd Marine Brigade is responsible for Tawi-Tawi.
“We have the different joint task forces carrying out their security plans,” Lieutenant General Antonio Nafarrete said in an interview.
Latest data released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) show that 30 municipalities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are listed under the red category.
The data indicates that 20 of the 30 towns classified under the red category are located in the province of Lanao del Sur.
The red category includes areas with serious armed threats and a history of election-related incidents.
The Comelec has already placed the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte province under its control, following the killing of its municipal election officer on March 26.
Nafarrete said that the different JTFs have launched forums for political candidates, the highlight of which is the signing of a covenant or pledge of commitment, especially in hotspot areas, to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections.
“The goal of the forum is to inform them of their role and to secure their commitment to ensuring a peaceful and honest election, knowing that in previous elections, we have expected some incidents,” Nafarrete said.
He added that additional troops will be deployed for election security duty in Central Mindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan provinces.
However, he clarified that no soldiers will be assigned to serve as members of the Board of Election Inspectors on election day.
He also mentioned that they will assist the Comelec in transporting election paraphernalia, especially in island towns. (SunStar Zamboanga)