(Photo courtesy of AFP)
MANILA – The country's uniformed services expressed their full support to ensure that the coming May 2022 local and national elections will be peaceful and orderly.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) made the assurance during the National Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council (JPSCC) Meeting held Tuesday in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
"I have given express order to all AFP units, to some I have delivered in person, to give our all-out support and ensure that Filipinos will have a safe and secure environment to exercise their right to choose their leaders," said AFP chief-of-staff and JPSCC co-chair, Lt.Gen. Andres Centino, in a statement Thursday.
Joining Centino in the JPSCC meeting are PNP chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos and PCG head, Admiral Leopoldo Laroya.
The meeting included updates on intelligence, operations, civil and community relations, legal and investigation, and training and education programs.
Chairman Sheriff M. Abas of the Commission on Elections, who was represented by Atty Fritzie Claire Casiño-Caigoy, briefed the council on the salient provisions of Comelec Resolution No. 10725 entitled, “Rules and Regulations on Local Absentee Voting in Connection with the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections.”
The resolution provides guidelines on how government officials and employees, members of the AFP and PNP, and members of the media who will be assigned on election duty can vote.
The co-chairpersons also signed the JPSCC Resolution affirming the dismantling of four guerilla fronts of the communist terrorist group (CTG) and the weakening of seven others.
The document also confirmed the dismantling of one CTG vertical unit. These accomplishments will enable a more secure environment for the elections, particularly in the countryside.
"It is indeed commendable to note the staunch commitment of our respective organizations towards the realization of our shared aspirations of defeating the enemies of the state, and in maintaining peace and security in our communities," Centino said.
The JPSCC was activated to align peace and security and law enforcement efforts of the AFP and the PNP. A resolution signed in July included the PCG to expand the JPSCC's scope to include maritime law enforcement and marine environment protection.
“As the representative of the AFP and as the co-Chair of the National JPSCC, I assure you that we shall remain supportive and collaborative with the PNP and the PCG in the conduct of their respective Security or Law Enforcement operations. Furthermore and more importantly, we will continue to advance our interoperability and forge stronger ties and cooperation," the AFP chief said. (PNA)
