AFP, PNP forge joint action plan for May 13 polls in Caraga

CAMP BANCASI Butuan City – In a bid to ensure peaceful and orderly elections in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region and Northern Mindanao (Region 10), top officials and field unit commanders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday inked a joint action plan for a unified approach in any situation that may arise before and after mid-term polls.

The Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4th ID), led by its commander Maj. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal; and PNP’s Regional Office 10 (PRO-10) and PRO-13, represented by P/Brig. Gen. Jerry Linsagan, Deputy Regional Director (DRD) for Administration, and P/Col. Jimili Macaraeg, DRD for Operations respectively, signed the “Joint AFP-PNP Implementation Plan (IMPLAN) for the May 13, 2019 polls” on Friday.

The IMPLAN also provided for a joint security and deployment plan of all AFP and PNP forces in the two regions come May 13 polls.

The plan lays down all available measures to ensure a “peaceful, honest, orderly, free and credible May 2019 election” in all provinces and cities of Region 13 and 10.

“This activity is a continuation of our dutiful preparations for the forthcoming elections which we have already started several months back. But it will not end here. We will continue our preparations, and ensure that all available resources particularly our personnel are deployed and utilized accordingly to ensure successful elections in our respective areas,” Linsagan said.

This was backed by Macaraeg who said he was confident that the strong partnership and collaboration between the two uniformed services will spell out the difference come election day. “Our long experiences in working together in all aspects of peace and order and security is crucial to this endeavor. Our constituents expect a lot from us hence we cannot afford to fail them,” Macaraeg said. (Mike U. Crismundo)