ARMY FORCES HELP KEEP MAY 13 ELECTIONS PEACEFUL

PIÑAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE – “The recently concluded May 13, 2013 National and Local elections in the provinces of Zamboanga Del Norte and Misamis Occidental including five municipalities of Zamboanga Del Sur was generally peaceful”.  This was the assessment of the various sectors after all the results of the elections in said areas were reported.

Despite a few untoward incidents, the conduct of elections in those areas was orderly as no major cases of election-related violence were reported. 

For his part, Col. Apolinario Y. Alobba, Commander of the 101^st Infantry Brigade, 1^st Infrantry “Tabak” Division, Philippine Army credited the peaceful elections in those areas which are within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility or AOR to the combined efforts of different government agencies and the civilians.

During the start of the election campaign, the 101^st Brigade made incessant support and coordination with the Philippine National Police, the COMELEC, other stakeholders and the whole citizenry. Army troopers were deployed to known election hotspot areas with the mission to help thwart possible election-related violent incidents under the program Secure and Fair Election (SAFE) polls. The deployment started early January this year.

The 101^st  Infantry (Three Red Arrows) Brigade, 1^st Infantry Division, Philippine Army  has deployed more or less 5,000 Army Troopers including Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (CAA) under its operational control.  

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Col. Alobba In his post-election message said: “As we concluded the recent political exercise, I urge all candidates, supporters and ordinary citizens to move on and unite towards the greater interest of serving our constituents and the general public. I also enjoin each and every one to keep the spirit of “Bayanihan” as we help one another in winning a lasting peace towards progress and development”.