Over 2,000 Security Personnel Mobilized for Upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in Antique

ANTIQUE – More than 2,000 security forces will be mobilized to maintain peace and order during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled to take place in Antique on October 30.

According to a new release by the Philippines News Agency, the concerted effort involves logistical support as well as air, land, and water assets. She made the statement during a send-off ceremony held at the Antique Provincial Police Office on Tuesday. The forces include personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Villanueva emphasized the importance of the security personnel fulfilling their mandate to ensure a peaceful and credible election process. Various officials, including Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) officer-in-charge Lt. Col. Ricardo Jomuad Jr., Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) commander Lieutenant Colonel Arturo Balgos, BFP Antique Fire Marshall Superintendent Patricio Collado, and Coast Guard Station Antique deputy commander Ensign Joshua Paul Junsay, participated in the ceremony.

Lt. Col. Jomuad stated that an additional 715 police officers have been requested from the regional headquarters to support the 1,000 personnel already stationed in Antique. “The police will be ready to secure the polling precincts on Election Day,” he said in a separate interview.

The Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion is currently monitoring 12 election areas of concern in the province. According to Lt. Col. Balgos, there have been no reports of vote-buying or vote-selling activities. “We have beefed up our strength and are conducting focused military operations to ensure a peaceful and safe election,” Balgos added.

The Bureau of Fire Protection will commence inspections of classrooms to be used as polling precincts on Wednesday, checking for fire hazards. The Philippine Coast Guard will also deploy its floating asset at the Lipata Port in Culasi as part of the security measures.