• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Joint Task Force Spear has deployed 3,922 troops and 91 mobility assets to ensure the conduct of peaceful and orderly elections on May 12 in the Negros Island Region, Western, and Central Visayas.
The sendoff ceremonies started May 6 in Negros Island, with the 303rd Infantry Brigade in Negros Occidental dispatching 1,034 soldiers to different areas of operations, while the 302nd Infantry Brigade fielded 1,487 soldiers to Negros Oriental and other portions of Central Visayas.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, 3ID commander, said they are conducting comprehensive pre-deployment preparations to ensure that soldiers effectively perform their election duties, which includes securing voters, Board of Election Inspectors, Comelec personnel, as well as the voting areas.
“Our goal is to guarantee that the people of Western and Central Visayas, as well as NIR, can safely and freely exercise their right to suffrage and to ensure a fair, safe, honest, and credible NLE (National Local Elections) 2025,” said Samson, also the head of the Joint Task Force Spear.
All the 25 towns and cities of Negros Oriental were classified by the Comelec as “areas of concern,” with La Libertad and Guihulngan City placed under the red category. The province was placed under Comelec control during the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, due to election related incidents, including the assassination of then Governor Roel Degamo, among others.
The 31 towns and cities in Negros Occidental were placed under the green category, or areas with no election related security concerns, aside from Candoni, which was placed under the orange category due to serious armed threats.
The 3ID deployed 1,126 troops and 48 mobility assets in Western Visayas.
Samson added that an additional 274 personnel and one mobility asset were sent by the 3ID Headquarters to various locations in the region.
He further said that Army soldiers received an orientation briefing on the NLE 2025 before deployment, emphasizing non-partisanship, maintaining order and security, and adherence to election laws and regulations, which are also covered deployment guidelines and coordination protocols with the Comelec and other government agencies.
They also underwent comprehensive training and coordination exercises, including contingency planning, crowd control, and legal orientation, preparing them for deployment to strategic locations throughout the Visayas regions and NIR to provide security and support before, during, and after the election.
Samson urged the public to cooperate with security forces to ensure a successful NLE 2025.*
