Comelec inks agreement with DND, AFP for cooperation in 2023 BSKE

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to strengthen cooperation for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

In a press conference, Comelec Chairman George Garcia cited private armies and terror groups as among potential problems the AFP and the DND could tackle.

“Tatandaan po natin na merong ilang private armed groups sa ilang areas. Mayroong kinakailangang buwagin…‘yan ay dapat PNP but minsan sa sobrang lakas ng pwersa ngayon, kinakailangan ng PNP ang Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in a press conference.

(Let us remember that there are still private armed groups in several areas and we need to dismantle them. This should be handled by the PNP but sometimes, these groups are very powerful. Thus, we need the support of the AFP.)

“’Yun naman ang instruction ng Comelec that there should be no private armed groups for this coming 2023 elections. Hangga't maaari, lahat wala. At the same time, demolished ang lahat ng private armed groups,” he added.

(That is the instruction of the Comelec. There should be no private armed groups for this coming 2023 elections. As much as possible, all private armed groups are dismantled or demolished.)

Garcia likewise said that they wanted to address the possible influence of militant groups like the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Jemaah Islamiyah in the coming elections.

The Comelec chief said that some relatives of these groups are running for barangay and SK positions.

“Kaya natural na makikialam, makikisawsaw ang mga myembro nila and therefore, pag nagkaganon ang mismong organisasyon ang nadadamay at nakikihalubilo dito sa laban ng BSKE. Ito pong ganung klaseng pakikialam, hindi po pang PNP ‘yon. ‘Yun po ay bagay na papasok ang ating AFP. Lalong-lalo na ang Philippine Army. D’yan po natin sila kailangan,” he said.

(It is natural that the members of these groups will dip their fingers in the upcoming elections. This kind of problem will not be addressed by the PNP but by the AFP, especially the Philippine Army.)

Garcia also said that during the MOA signing, DND Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. emphasized the need for a peaceful election so the military forces can focus on the country’s external defense.

“Dahil nga sa usually nagagamit natin ang AFP sa ating mga kampanya ng Commission on Elections, napo-focus ang kanilang pwersa, ang kanilang energy, ang kanilang resources dito sa pagsisigurado na magiging maayos at malinis ang ating halalan,” Garcia said.

“Samantalang kung masisigurado natin na maayos [ang eleksyon], focused sila sa problemang panlabas at alam naman natin ang ating kinakaharap na problema at sa ating palagay nakikita namin, naramdaman namin ang bigat ng problemang sinasabi ni Teodoro kanina,” he added,

(Since the AFP is always supporting the Commission on Elections, their forces, energy, and resources are focused on ensuring that the polls are clean and orderly. But if we can ensure that the elections will be in order, they will be more focused on external problems and we all know the problem that we are currently facing. We have seen and felt the gravity of the problem that Teodoro mentioned.)

The 2023 BSKE will take place on October 30. — BM, GMA Integrated News