AFP to deploy 18K personnel for Eleksyon 2025

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said at least 18,000 personnel are set to be deployed to secure Eleksyon 2025.

AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla also said that the number may also increase depending on the situation.

“Meron kasing immediate reaction katulad niyan encounter, ambush. Election season siya, so magfa-fall pa rin siya doon. Tapos biglang de-deploy-an namin ‘yan,” Padilla told reporters in an ambush interview.

(There is an immediate reaction, like for an encounter and ambush. It's election season, so it will still fall under that. Then, we will have a sudden deployment.)

“Hindi naman natin puwedeng sabihin na ito lang ang naka-deploy for eleksyon, ito lang ang role niyo. Madagdagan at madagdagan siya,” she added.

(We cannot limit the number of deployment. We will have to increase the number of deployments later on.)

Padilla, meanwhile, vowed that the AFP will ensure the well-being of Filipinos during the election period.

“The strength of our nation lies not only in our resolve to protect, but in our unwavering commitment to truth, unity, and progress,” Padilla said.

“Whether in securing our democratic processes, maintaining peace through decisive actions during the election season, we ensure the well-being of those we have served and the AFP stands firm in its duty to the Filipino people,” she added.

As of February 7, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said there was one validated election-related incident of violence in Western Visayas.

One suspected election-related incident of violence was also reported in Central Luzon, which is still undergoing validation.

The election period started on January 12.

The campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups is set from February 11 to May 10. Meanwhile, the campaign period for candidates for House of Representatives, provincial, city and municipal elections will be from March 28 to May 10.

Election Day is on May 12, but overseas voters may cast their votes from April 13 to May 12, while local absentee voters may cast their votes from April 28 to 30.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News

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