DND commits to keep polls ‘orderly, honest, peaceful’

The Department of National Defense (DND) vowed on Saturday, May 7, to do its part in keeping the national and local elections on Monday, May 9, as orderly, honest, and peaceful as possible.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said more than 45,000 soldiers are assigned for poll duties especially in cities and municipalities tagged as “election areas of concern” or those with history of poll-related violence. The initial batch of military personnel assigned to secure the elections were deployed as early as last week.

“The Department of National Defense expresses its commitment to help ensure the orderly, honest, and peaceful conduct of the 2022 National and Local Elections on Monday, May 9, 2022," Lorenzana said.

“Our troops shall help prevent illicit and/or illegal activities that may compromise the safety and sanctity of the elections,” he added.

Further, the Defense chief reiterated his previous guidance to the military personnel to “remain professional and non-partisan” for the upcoming elections.

“Despite differences in opinion and preferences, may we all remember the potential of our vote to elect the right leaders of our democratic country,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army readied nearly 400 troops who are part of the election contingency or standby force on Friday, May 6.

The contingency force is composed of teams from the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM), K-9, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), AmbuMedic, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) units.

Army Major Units have also assigned nearly 4,000 soldiers as augmentation forces for the unified commands for the elections.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has deputized soldiers, policemen, and coast guard personnel to secure polling precincts and election paraphernalia on Monday.