Nearly 11,900 personnel from the Philippine Army and the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit are being mobilized to reinforce security measures for the inaugural Bangsamoro regional parliamentary polls scheduled for September 14.
Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala stated that the massive contingent comprises units from the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division, 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division, and 11th Infantry “Alakdan” Division.
The deployment solidifies the Army’s position as the primary manpower contributor to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ election security operations.
To solidify ground control in Lanao del Sur, the 1st Infantry Division activated two additional provisional battalions on August 31, complementing the eight infantry battalions already stationed across the province.
“Additionally, armor and field artillery units provide additional mobility, protection, and fire-support capabilities, while the 3rd Special Forces Battalion is scheduled to deploy before election day,” Dema-ala added.
Reinforcements are also being provided by the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division, which dispatched troops from its 67th Infantry Battalion alongside the 102nd Division Reconnaissance Company.
The strategic troop positioning aims to foster a safe and fair environment, with military leadership instructing soldiers to adhere strictly to standards of neutrality, professionalism, and non-partisanship throughout the political process.
Meanwhile, the 6th Infantry Division wrapped up a pre-deployment orientation for its Quick Reaction Force at Camp Siongco to ensure immediate response readiness for any security threats that may arise during voting.
Dema-ala highlighted that these measures form part of a holistic security strategy for the historical election, which marks the first time voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will select their parliamentary representatives under the regional government system.