3 hours Ago By Teofilo P. Garcia Jr.
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines – The military has sent reinforcements to Basilan to bolster security measures in the Bangsamoro province ahead of the May polls, a senior army official said on Monday, April 11, as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) flagged nearly a dozen areas there as potential election hotspots. Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade, said the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) increased its troop presence to help ensure peaceful and orderly voting in 11 areas of concern identified by the poll body. Luzon said the troops sent to Basilan were from the 113th Division Reconnaissance Company (113DRC), a specialized unit under the Army’s 11th Infantry Division based in nearby Sulu.
The unit is tasked with intelligence gathering and reconnaissance operations to support ground commanders with real-time battlefield information. The 113DRC’s deployment is part of a broader security effort by the Westmincom and Joint Task Force Orion aimed at securing the integrity and credibility of the May elections , Luzon said. The Comelec has placed the municipality of Al-Barka under the red category, indicating the highest level of election-related concern.
Tipo-Tipo and Tabuan Lasa are under the orange category, while eight villages in Lamitan City and the town of Hadji Mohammad Ajul are listed under the yellow category. Only one, Akbar town, has been classified under the green category, considered relatively peaceful. Authorities said these areas have a documented history of election-related violence and are being prioritized for enhanced security and monitoring.
The augmentation force arrived on Sunday, April 20, at the headquarters of the 14th Special Forces Company, 4th Special Forces Battalion in Lamitan City. The company is headed by 1st Lieutenant Eric Regaspe. “They will be working alongside the capable and committed soldiers of the 101st Infantry Brigade, and I am confident that together, we will ensure a secure and peaceful electoral process in Basilan,” Luzon said, expressing full trust in the professionalism, discipline, and dedication of the troopers.
Before the deployment of the 113DRC, Lieutenant General Antonio Nafarrete, Westmincom chief, and Major General Leonardo Peña, commander of the 11th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force (JTF) Orion, visited the 101st Brigade headquarters in Isabela City, Basilan, on Saturday, April 19. JTF Orion has jurisdiction over the provinces of Sulu and Basilan. Colonel J-Jay Javines, Westmincom spokesperson, said Luzon presented the brigade’s comprehensive security and contingency plans for the May 12 polls, which cover the entirety of Basilan province.
Javines said the plans outline detailed preparations aimed at mitigating potential threats and responding promptly to election-related incidents. “The elections are a vital part of our democracy. We must protect the process and ensure that our communities can vote in peace.
We must stay focused, impartial, and fully prepared until the entire electoral process is complete,” Nafarrete said during the visit in Basilan. – Rappler.com.
